October 27, 2007
GREENVILLE RUNNERS CAPTURE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TITLES


HILLSBORO, Ill. - The Greenville College men's and women's cross country squads continued their domination of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) by capturing both team titles at the 2007 SLIAC Cross Country Championships held at Hillsboro Country Club. The Panther men, who claimed their 11th consecutive SLIAC championship, finished with five runners in the top 10 for a total of 28 points. The Panther women finished with 21 points after claiming second through fifth place and seventh place for their fourth consecutive championship and 12th overall.

Principia College's Peter Swank and Fontbonne University's Rachel Hanson claimed the individual crowns. Swank, a senior, posted a time of 26:12 on the 8K course to be named the Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year. Hanson, a freshman, ran the 6K course in 23:37 and was named Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Principia, Fontbonne and Blackburn College placed second through fourth respectively on the men's side, while Fontbonne, Webster University, Principia and Blackburn rounded out the women's team competition in second through fifth place.

Greenville's men were led by Josh Bond (27:01) and Rodney Oyler (27:16) in second and third place. Fontbonne's Everett Jackson and Principia's Jeff Strickland finished fourth and fifth respectively with times of 27:28 and 27:29.

A pack of four women led Greenville to victory. Talen Gerber (23:52), Jennifer Sutton (23:54), Liz Derstine (24:05) and Jamie O'Connor (24:17) placed second through fifth. Webster's Candace Barry was close on their heels with an overall time of 24:32 in sixth place.

Earning All-Conference honors for the men were Swank, Bond, Oyler, Jackson, Strickland, Greenville's Lance Ward and Fontbonne's Zach Kassman on the First Team. Second Team All-SLIAC honors were given to Greenville's Cole Prins, Alex Robertson, Seth Frankhauser and John Spencer, Principia's Justin Sinichko and Fontbonne's Nathan Uding and Philip Yates. Jackson was also named Men's Cross Country Newcomer of the Year.

Greenville may have dominated in the team competition on the women's side, but Hanson dominated the individual awards. In addition to her Runner of the Year honors, she was also named Women's Cross Country Newcomer of the Year. Joining her on the First Team All-Conference were Gerber, Sutton, Derstine, O'Connor, Barry and Greenville's Sara Schlink. Second Team All-SLIAC honors were given to Greenville's Taryn Cors and Kristi Ellsworth, Webster's Chrysti Walters and Brooke Benson, Principia's Dolly Summer, Maryville University's Erin McEnaney and Fontbonne's Alex Weatherby.

Greenville assistant men's and women's coach Jonathan Eckberg was voted as Coach of the Year.

MEN'S RESULTS
WOMEN'S RESULTS

 

© 2007 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference