Women sixth, men place seventh in OVC Championships

Women sixth, men place seventh in OVC Championships

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).