Women sixth, men place seventh in OVC Championships
Newcomers led the way for the women's team in a sixth place finish while returnees and newcomers figured in the mix for the men's squad on the way to seventh place as Tennessee Tech hosted a successful Ohio Valley Conference cross country championship Saturday at sunny Southern Hills Golf Course.
Final OVC Women's results (PDF)
Final OVC Men's results (PDF)
Video of Golden Eagles runners at OVC meet
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Newcomers were the top finishers for the
Tennessee Tech women's cross country team on the way to a sixth
place finish, while newcomers and returnees figured in the mix in a
seventh place showing for the Golden Eagle men's team Saturday at
the Ohio Valley Conference championships on a sun-soaked Southern
Hills Golf Course. Tech served as the host of the meet.
The Eastern Kentucky women's and men's teams each captured their
sixth consecutive team titles during the morning runs. The EKU
women scored 20 points, with senior Katherine Pagano claiming the
individual championship and OVC Female Athlete of the Year honors.
The Colonel men claimed the top five places on the way to a team
score of 15 -- the fourth meet in history that the OVC men's
champion had the top five finishers -- with freshman Soufiane
Bouchikhi claiming the individual title. He was the OVC Male
Athlete of the Year and also the Freshman of the Year.
EKU's Rick Erdman was named OVC Men's and Women's Coach of the
Year.
In the women's race, Tech scored 181 team points to tie for sixth
place with Austin Peay but claimed the tie-breaker in the
standings. Freshman Peri Winborne (Knoxville, Tenn.) was the top
finisher for coach Tony Cox' team, placing 30th in the time of
20:01.62. Freshman Rebecca Cline (Spring Hill) was 37th in 20:29.51
with junior Leah Bradley (McDonough, Ga.) right behind in 38th
place at 20:30.90. Freshman Beth Miller (Watertown, Wis.) was next
for Tech, placing 31st in 20:38.99, followed by freshman Emily
Williams (Talbott, Tenn.) in 42nd at 20:54.02.
The difference in the standings was freshman Amelia McCoy
(Crossville), who finished 45th to give Tech the tie-breaker over
Austin Peay, whose sixth runner was 65th.
The remainder of Tech's lineup included freshman Brittney Brown
(Greeneville, Tenn.) in 54th place at 21:37.08, with junior Traci
Jones (Aiken, S.C.) finishing 57th in 21:49.82.
Junior Sam
Taylor (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.)and freshman Matthew Bishop
(Morristown, Tenn.) paced the Golden Eagle men's team. Taylor
placed 29th overall in 27:11.46, while Bishop crossed the finish
line in 30th place at 27:18.23.
A trio of Tech runners came through the finishing chute within
seconds of each other to round out Tech's scoring with 189 team
points. Freshman Tyler Eads (Tullahoma,
Tenn.) led the group, finishing 45th overall in 28:37.39. Senior Joseph
DeLorenzo (Crossville, Tenn.) was 46th in 28:41.01, while
senior Ben
Shassere placed 47th in 28:46.28. Sophomore John Greene was sixth
across the line for Tech, placing 52nd in 29:19.90, followed
closely by freshman Nathan Snow
(Collierville, Tenn.) in 53rd place at 29:24.67, and sophomore Chris Bishop
(Morristown, Tenn.) in 55th place at 29:36.73.
After EKU (15) in first place in the men's race was Southeast
Missouri (55), followed in the team standings by Eastern Ilinois
(95), Morehead State (108), Austin Peay (145), UT Martin (162),
Tennessee Tech (189), Jacksonville State (211),
Murray State (260) and Tennessee State (310).
Among the women's teams, Eastern Kentucky's (20) points was
followed by Eastern Illinois (45), Murray State (111), Jacksonville
State (119), Southeast Missouri (158), Tennessee Tech
(181), Austin Peay (181), UT Martin (183), Morehead State
(207) and Tennessee State (300).
