NASHVILLE - The Eastern Kentucky men and women's cross country team swept the OVC Cross Country Championship for the fourth year in a row, winning the titles at a wet and muddy Vaughn's Gap Course at Edwin Warner Park on Saturday morning.
For the men, it was the 18th championship for Eastern Kentucky and fourth in a row. The Colonel runners took home four of the top five spots and eight of the first 13 spots overall. As a team EKU totaled 22 points, 77 points better than Eastern Illinois. The Panthers, who were champions last in 2005, had its best finish since that season on Saturday (89 points). Southeast Missouri State (98) was third and followed by Jacksonville State (122), Tennessee Tech (130), Morehead State (144), UT Martin (161), Austin Peay (211), Murray State (236) and Tennessee State (300).
In the women's competition it was the 24th overall title for Eastern Kentucky, who has now won four in a row and six of the last eight championships. The Colonels had three of the top four finishers overall and finished with 32 points. That was 31 points better than preseason favorite Murray State (63). The Racers edged Eastern Illinois, the 2001 champions, by two points. Southeast Missouri State was fourth (104) and followed by Jacksonville State (145), Morehead State (166), UT Martin (187), Tennessee Tech (187), Austin Peay (239) and Tennessee State (304).
In the individual competition Eastern Kentucky junior Wesley Ruttoh claimed his first OVC Championship by covering the wet 8K course in a time of 25:39.24. That was 15 seconds ahead of Jacksonville State freshman David Nilsson (25:54.82) who was the winner at the Commodore Classic on the exact same course earlier this season. Nilsson took home OVC Freshman of the Year honors. He was nine seconds ahead of EKU senior Stanley Mugo (26:03.90).
On the women's side, EKU freshman Picoty Leitich was named OVC Athlete and Freshman of the Year after finishing the 5K course in 19:29.05. She became the first freshman to win the OVC Women's Championship since Southeast Missouri's Lindsey Zeiler in 2002. Leitich was 13 seconds ahead of Murray State senior Taylor Crawford. Crawford (19:42.54) was 15 seconds ahead of EKU junior Sylvia Bundotich (19:57.30). Despite having won the last four team titles, it was the first OVC Individual Championship for an Eastern Kentucky female runner since 2003 (Wendee Embry).
Eastern Kentucky's Rick Erdmann was named Coach of the Year on each the men's and women's side. It marks his 24th Women's Coach of the Year award and 16th Men's Coach of the Year award all-time.
Men's Awards
Athlete of the Year: Wesley Ruttoh, Eastern Kentucky
Coach of the Year: Rick Erdmann, Eastern Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: David Nilsson, Jacksonville State
All-OVC First Team
Wesley Ruttoh, Eastern Kentucky
David Nilsson, Jacksonville State
Stanley Mugo, Eastern Kentucky
Elkana Kurgat, Eastern Kentucky
Christopher Rengifo, Eastern Kentucky
George Kiplagat, Jacksonville State
Justin Cacaro, UT Martin
All-OVC Second Team
Jason Lumpkin, Southeast Missouri
Chris Rice, Eastern Kentucky
Josphat Melly, Eastern Kentucky
James Bowens, Morehead State
Alex Dreyer, Eastern Kentucky
Daniel Jones, Eastern Kentucky
Matt Feldhake, Eastern Illinois
Women's Awards
Athlete of the Year: Picoty Leitich, Eastern Kentucky
Coach of the Year: Rick Erdmann, Eastern Kentucky
Freshman of the Year: Picoty Leitich, Eastern Kentucky
All-OVC First Team
Picoty Leitich, Eastern Kentucky
Taylor Crawford, Murray State
Sylvia Bundotich, Eastern Kentucky
Katherine Pagano, Eastern Kentucky
Katelyn Jones, Murray State
Erin O'Grady, Eastern Illinois
Tiffany Palmer, Tennessee Tech
All-OVC Second Team
Olivia Klaus, Eastern Illinois
Monica Noble, Southeast Missouri
Ashley Stovall, Jacksonville State
Ashli Joseph, Eastern Kentucky
Szandra Pal, Southeast Missouri
Danielle Mason, Eastern Kentucky
Kayla Crusham, Murray State