Generals, Eagles Earn Sweeps at ODAC Cross Country Championships

KERNSTOWN, Va. --- It was a double sweep on Saturday afternoon at Kernstown Battlefield as two squads were represented at the top of the team and individual results from the 2018 ODAC Cross Country Championships. Washington and Lee University swept both team titles for the fourth straight season, while Bridgewater College senior Jamie Hiegel and junior Calista Ariel finished first in the men's and women's races, respectively.

The Generals margin of victory in the women's competition was slashed by nearly a factor of 10 from the 2017 championships as W&L posted 34 points to top second place University of Lynchburg by just five markers. W&L defeated the Hornets by 40 points last year. On the other side of the ledger, the Generals men increased their margin of victory from 21 points over Bridgewater last season to 33 points this year with 27 tallies compared to 60 for Lynchburg.

This is the second straight year W&L has collected 34 and 21 points, respectively.

In the individual results, BC's Ariel used a late kick to overtake Lynchburg's Kaitlyn Johnson and W&L's Samantha Yates to top the latter competitor by 1.2-seconds at 22:16.8 to secure ODAC Women's Runner of the Meet laurels. Ariel is the first Eagles' women's athlete to win an individual crown since Kaylee Kubisiak won twice in 2013 and 2014.

On the men's side, Hiegel held back in a pack near the top of the race in the early going, but took command of the race just before the 3-mile mark on the way to a 24.5-second victory over runner-up Alex Dolwick from W&L at 25:24.9. Hiegel won by 31.41-seconds in 2017. In addition to back-to-back titles, Hiegel finished third in 2016 and fourth in the 2015 to put together one of the most successful careers in ODAC championship history.

RELATED: 2018 Women's Championship Results | 2018 Men's Championship Results

Washington and Lee's teams combined for 11 All-ODAC runners with five women and six men finishing 14th or better in their respective races. Yates (2nd | 22:18.0) led three W&L women on the All-ODAC First Team. Joining her were Katie Bearup (4th | 23:01.2) and Maggie Seybold (5th | 23:13.8). Julia Moody (9th | 23:32.6) and Sarah Hollen (14th | 24:02.5) earned All-ODAC Second Team laurels. Hollen doubled as the ODAC Rookie of the Meet.

Lynchburg saw four women earn All-ODAC honors including three on the first team in Johnson (3rd | 22:29.8), Michela Cholak (6th | 23:18.8), and Morgan Watson (7th | 23:24.0). Samantha Schreiber (8th | 23:25.6) earned a second team spot and took home ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete accolades.

The remaining All-ODAC women's competitors are BC's English Jackson (10th | 23:38.0) and Jenna Rea (11th | 23:39.4) and Eastern Mennonite University's Elizabeth Nisly (12th | 23:46.4) and Laurie Serrell (13th | 23:59.8).

On the men's side, four Generals earned first team recognition in Dolwick (2nd | 25:59.4), Hank Patrick (3rd | 26:10.5), Austin Kinne (5th | 26:21.5), and Ethan Bernstein (7th | 26:32.9). Patrick added ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete honors to his profile for the second straight season. Daniel Cope (10th | 26:56.6) and Freddie Marx (11th | 27:04.1) earned second team distinction.

A trio from Lynchburg picked up honors including Tristan Lucy-Speidel (4th | 26:14.0) on first team and Max Sparks (8th | 26:42.1) and Shawn Gmurek (12th | 27:05.8) on second team.

Virginia Wesleyan University's Skyler Lattuca (6th | 26:25.7) collected the remaining first team spot as well as ODAC Rookie of the Meet honors. BC's Robert Theimer (9th | 26:52.3) is a second teamer for a second straight season. Roanoke College's duo of Peter Smith (13th | 27:07.5) and Chamberlain Zulauf (14th | 27:10.3) complete the award recipients.

Below is a full listing of team standings as well as the top-14 finishers that earned All-ODAC recognition and the special award winners from today's championships. There will be more to come with the ODAC Runner, Coach and Rookie of the Year determinations following the regional championships, which are scheduled for November 10 and hosted by Berry College.

For more information on ODAC cross country and the 2018 championships, visit the websites of any of the participating schools.  You can also visit the home of the ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com and view the ODAC cross country championship website.  Don't forget to become a fan of the ODAC on Facebook and follow @odacathletics on Twitter and Instagram

ODAC Men's Championship - 8K Race   ODAC Women's Championship - 6K Race
1. Washington and Lee 27 pts.   1. Washington and Lee 34 pts.
2. Lynchburg 60 pts.   2. Lynchburg 39 pts.
3. Bridgewater 79 pts.   3. Bridgewater 83 pts.
4. Roanoke 90 pts.   4. Shenandoah 101 pts.
5. Virginia Wesleyan 153 pts.   5. Eastern Mennonite 117 pts.
6. Eastern Mennonite 176 pts.   6. Emory & Henry 196 pts.
7. Shenandoah 207 pts.   7. Roanoke 198 pts.
8. Emory & Henry 238 pts.   8. Virginia Wesleyan 229 pts.
9 Randolph 247 pts.   9. Hollins 238 pts.
10. Hampden-Sydney 285 pts.   10. Sweet Briar 242 pts.
11. Ferrum   336 pts.   11. Randolph 325 pts.
        12. Ferrum 334 pts.
             
All-ODAC First Team - Men   All-ODAC First Team - Women
Jamie Hiegel BC 25:24.9   Calista Ariel BC 22:16.8
Alex Dolwick W&L 25:59.4   Samantha Yates W&L 22:18.0
Hank Patrick W&L 26:10.5   Kaitlyn Johnson LYN 22:29.8
Tristan Lucy-Speidel LYN 26:14.0   Katie Bearup W&L 23:01.2
Austin Kinne W&L 26:21.5   Maggie Seybold W&L 23:13.8
Skyler Lattuca VWU 26:25.7   Michela Cholak LYN 23:18.8
Ethan Bernstein W&L 26:32.9   Morgan Watson LYN 23:24.0
             
All-ODAC Second Team - Men   All-ODAC Second Team - Women
Max Sparks LYN 26:42.1   Samantha Schreiber LYN 23:25.6
Robert Theimer BC 26:52.3   Julia Moody W&L 23:32.6
Daniel Cope W&L 26:56.6   English Jackson BC 23:38.0
Freddie Marx W&L 27:04.1   Jenna Rea BC 23:39.4
Shawn Gmurek LYN 27:05.8   Elizabeth Nisly EMU 23:46.4
Peter Smith RC 27:07.5   Laurie Serrell EMU 23:59.8
Chamberlain Zulauf RC 27:10.3   Sarah Hollen W&L 24:02.5
             
Men's Runner of the Meet   Women's Runner of the Meet
Jamie Hiegel, BC   Calista Ariel, BC
     
Men's Rookie of the Meet   Women's Rookie of the Meet
Skyler Lattuca, VWU   Sarah Hollen, W&L
     
Men's ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance
Scholar-Athlete
  Women's ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance
Scholar-Athlete
Hank Patrick, W&L   Samantha Schreiber, LYN