RC's Smith Wins Men’s Crown, BC's Mills Collects Women’s Championship

 Full Meet Results

FOREST, Va. --- Lynchburg College and Bridgewater College split the 2011 ODAC Cross Country Championship races on Saturday at the Claytor Nature Center in Bedford, Va.  The Hornets came out on top in the men's 8K race, while the Eagles earned #1 billing through the women's 6K chase.  Roanoke’s Tim Smith garnered the individual men's title, earning him the ODAC Men's Runner of the Year award, while Bridgewater's Olivia Mills earned her first-ever ODAC Women's Runner of the Year accolade after capturing the women’s individual title.

The Top-14 finishers for both the men and women earn All-ODAC honors.  The first seven receive All-ODAC First Team accolades, while the second seven garner All-ODAC Second Team laurels.

On the men's side, one point separated the top two teams.  The Hornets finished atop the standings with 59 points, while the second-place team, Guilford College, posted 60 tallies.  Bridgewater College earned the third spot with 69 points, followed by Virginia Wesleyan College (83), Roanoke College (115), Washington and Lee University (125), Eastern Mennonite University (208), Hampden-Sydney College (238), Emory & Henry College (256) and Randolph College (292).

RC’s Smith completed the course in a winning time of 25:29.10.  The Hornets had four runners place in the Top-14 and were paced by Cody Stanton’s seventh place time of 26:29.50.  Billy Orndorff (26:41.20, 8^th), Anthony McBride (26:57.30, 11^th) and Daniel Cutright (27:05.00, 14^th) all scored for LC.  Bridgewater and Virginia Wesleyan each had three runners place in the Top-14.  BC’s Luke Sohl led the Eagles as he crossed the finish line in 26:01.00 for a third place mark.  Tim Miller placed 10^th with a time of 26:54.00 and Ryan Speray recorded a 12^th place finish in 26:57.60.  The Marlins were led by Sean Whitson, who ran the course in 25:35.30 to finish as the individual runner-up for the second straight year.  Nick Lauter (26:23.10, 6^th) and Darren Driscoll (26:59.00, 13^th) also scored VWC. 

Other notable men’s individual finishers include Guilford’s Chad Norton, who recorded a time of 26:12.40 for a fourth place mark, and 2010 individual winner Derick Kosgei’s fifth place effort (26:21.80).  Eastern Mennonite’s Dan Nafziger notched a ninth place finish with a time of 26:41.30. 

On the women’s side, the Eagles placed first with 37 total points.  Washington and Lee finished in second with 56 markers, followed by Virginia Wesleyan (71), Lynchburg (104), Roanoke (116), Eastern Mennonite (152), Guilford (183) and Randolph (225).

Mills and her winning time of 22:00.60 was joined by All-ODAC teammates Molly Smith (23:23.30, 3^rd), Stephaine Breen (24:00.90, 8^th) and Whitney Fitzgerald (24:02.60, 9^th).  Washington and Lee and Virginia Wesleyan placed three runners each in the Top-14.  The Generals were led by Lauren Schultz’s second place finish (23:06.50).  Annelise Madison joined her on the All-ODAC First Team with a fifth place mark (23:40.00), while Brandie Huffman finished in 11^th place with a time of 24:10.70.  Kelly Fauth led the Marlins as she crossed the finish line in 23:45.20 for a sixth place nod.  Emma Helsel followed closely behind her teammate and recorded a 23:51.10 time (7^th place finish).  Shelby Bryceland rounded out VWC’s all-conference contingent with a 10^th place finish (24:06.20).

Other noteworthy women’s times include Roanoke’s Grace England (23:31.80, 4^th), Lynchburg’s Krystal Foster (24:16.80, 12^th), Guilford’s Anne Mogavero (24:21.20, 13^th) and Eastern Mennonite’s Katie Eckman (24:32.70, 14^th). 

Lynchburg's Doug Thomasey was tabbed the men's ODAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year, while Bridgewater head coach Brian Flynn garnered his first women's ODAC Coach of the Year accolade.

The Eagles’ Sohl was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year, while Roanoke’s England collected the honor on the women's side.

Roanoke’s Smith was selected as the men's ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Washington and Lee’s Schultz earned the women's laurel.

See below for the 2011 All-ODAC Men's and Women's Cross Country teams.  For more information, visit the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don’t forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook by clicking HERE.  You can also follow the ODAC on Twitter by clicking HERE.  And check the ODAC’s YouTube channel for a video recap once it becomes available (late Saturday).

Full Meet Results

ODAC Women's Championship - 6K Race
1. Bridgewater – 37 pts.
2. Washington and Lee – 56 pts.
3. Virginia Wesleyan – 71 pts.
4. Lynchburg – 104 pts.
5. Roanoke – 116 pts.
6. Eastern Mennonite – 152 pts.
7. Guilford – 183 pts.
8. Randolph – 225 pts.

ODAC Men's Championship - 8K Race
1. Lynchburg - 59 pts.
2. Guilford – 60 pts
3. Bridgewater – 69 pts.
4. Virginia Wesleyan – 83 pts.
5. Roanoke – 115 pts.
6. Washington and Lee – 125 pts.
7. Eastern Mennonite – 208 pts.
8. Hampden-Sydney – 238 pts.
9. Emory & Henry – 256 pts.
10. Randolph – 292 pts.