Blue Knights Race at MEC Championships

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- West Virginia Wesleyan placed its top seven runners in the top 16 to propel the Bobcats to the 2017 Mountain East Conference Women's Cross Country Championship on Saturday morning at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex.

The Bobcats won the title with just 35 points, ahead of Wheeling Jesuit's 47 points. Concord was third with 68 points, followed by Charleston (115), Fairmont State (139), West Liberty (188), UVa-Wise (197), Notre Dame (218) and Glenville State (226).

Kelsey Chambers won her third-straight MEC Championship title and was also named the league's Runner of the Year for the third-consecutive season. She finished the 6,000-meter race with a time of 23:09. Teammate Kaitlyn Workman was second with a time of 23:29.

WVWC's contingent was led by senior Sydney Pineault who was third (24:08). The Bobcats also had Madison Frame (6th), Joanna Johnston (7th), Lexi Beach (9th) and Michaela Peterson (10th) earn first team honors by finishing in the top 10. Zoey Vilasuso (15th) and Rachel Englund (16th) earned second team recognition and rounded out the scoring for WVWC.

Also earning first team honors was Kelly Whittaker (UC), Sydney Haynes (CU), Emily Maddow (FSU). Haynes was named Freshman of the Year for her efforts this fall.

West Virginia Wesleyan head coach Jesse Skiles was selected as the league's Coach of the Year for guiding the Bobcats to their fourth MEC title in five years.

Concord Wins Third-Straight Men's XC Title

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. -- Concord picked up its third-straight Mountain East Conference Men's Cross Country title on Saturday morning at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex.

The Mountain Lions had four runners in the top 10 and five in the top 14 to take the title with 32 points. The University of Charleston was second with 47 points, followed by West Virginia Wesleyan in third with 54. Wheeling Jesuit was sixth (89), followed by West Liberty (164), Glenville State (174), UVa-Wise (183), Fairmont State (217) and Notre Dame (220).

Like last year, Concord individuals went 1-2 in the race, although the order flipped this year as Justin Snyder won with a time of 26:15. Snyder was named the MEC Runner of the Year for his efforts for Saturday and the enitre fall season. Teammate Jason Weitzel was second this year finishing wiht a time of 26:33. CU's Tyler Kosut and Michael Ruhnke also were in the top 10 to earn All-MEC first team honors.

Charleston had a pack of three runners in the top 10, led by freshman David Cecchi in sixth. Cecchi was tabbed as the league's Freshman of the Year for his season. Teammates Jake Casto and Hunter Riffle were seventh and eight, respectively.

Wheeling Jesuit freshman Jacob Bishop was third in the race, and West Virginia Wesleyan's Matt Dearth and Colin Wallace were also in the top 10 to earn All-MEC first team honors.

Concord's head coach Mike Cox was selected as the league's Coach of the Year as he directed the Mountain Lions to a third-straight title.

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