BC's Kubisiak, GC's Goncarovs Claim Individual Titles

FARMVILLE, Va. --- Bridgewater College ran its way to both the men's and women's cross country titles at the 2013 ODAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Eagles head coach Brian Flynn was tabbed the ODAC Coach of the Year in both sports, while fellow Eagle Kaylee Kubisiak claimed the women's individual crown and subsequent ODAC Women's Runner of the Year award. Guilford College's Andris Goncarovs stopped the watches first in the men's race, earning ODAC Men's Runner of the Year honor.

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

On the men's side, the Eagles finished atop the standings with 50 points en route to capturing their first-ever conference title. Lynchburg College posted 88 tallies for a second place finish, while the next two spots were separated by just three points.  Washington and Lee University earned the third ranking with 97 points, followed by Eastern Mennonite University with 100 markers. Guilford College finished in the fifth position with 109 points.  Roanoke College (136) placed sixth, followed by Virginia Wesleyan College (184), Emory & Henry College (231), Shenandoah University (242), Hampden-Sydney College (268) and Randolph College (283), sequentially. 

The Eagles had five runners place in the top-14 and were paced by Luke Sohl’s third place finish with a time of 26:22.80.  Matt Denlinger (27:18.40, 10th), Keith Thomas (27:22.60, 11^th), Troy Jackson (27:24.10, 12^th), and Tim Miller (27:43.10, 14^th) all scored for BC. Guilford had three runners place in the top-14, led by Goncarovs’ winning time of 26:19.50. Teammate Chad Norton finished in second place with a time of 26:20.40, while David Cason placed fourth and clocked in at 26:31.90.  Lynchburg had two runners garner all-conference recognition led by Anthony McBride, who crossed the finish line in 26:45.40 for a seventh place mark. Tyler Timblin finished the course in 27:27.40 for a 13^th place nod.

Other notable men’s individual finishers include Shenandoah’s Ryan Taylor, who crossed the line in 26:45.10 for a fifth place mark. Eastern Mennonite’s Ryan Gehman (26:50.80, 8^th) and Roanoke’s Harrison Toney (26:57.00, 9^th) also recorded times good enough to earn All-ODAC Second Team recognition.

On the women’s side, the Eagles placed first with 22 total points.  Eastern Mennonite finished in second with 58 markers, followed by Lynchburg (90), Washington and Lee (97), Roanoke (148), Virginia Wesleyan (155), Shenandoah (187), Guilford (217), Emory & Henry (254), and Randolph (271), respectively.

Kubisiak and her winning time of 23:36.80 were joined by All-ODAC teammates Stephanie Breen (23:57.00, 2^nd), Makenzie McDonald (23:58.50, 3^rd), Zanny Ludtke (24:36.40, 7^th), and Lauren Johnson (24:58.40, 9^th). Eastern Mennonite placed four runners in the top-14, led Hannah Chappell-Dick’s fourth place finish (24:02.60).  Lanae Kreider (24:39.90, 8^th), Katie Eckman (25:07.80, 11^th), and Jolee Paden (25:11.70, 14^th) all earned All-ODAC Second Team accolades with their finishes.

Washington and Lee had two runners in the top-seven, including Annelise Madison (24:17.40, 5^th) and Casey Mackintosh (24:22.40, 6^th). Lynchburg, Shenandoah and Virginia Wesleyan each had one runner apiece who recorded All-ODAC Second Team finishes. LC’s Naomi Tice recorded a 10^th-place mark (25:06.60), SU’s Dorothy Earner finished in 11^th place with a time of 25:08.50, and VWC’s Liz Wade placed 13^th as she crossed the tape in 25:09.00.

Bridgewater’s Brian Flynn was tabbed the men's and women’s ODAC Coach of the Year for the first time in his coaching career.

The Generals’ Strehler was named the men’s ODAC Rookie of the Year, while Roanoke’s Kerri Dalton collected the honor on the women's side.

Virginia Wesleyan’s Darren Driscoll was selected as the men's ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second-straight season, while Washington and Lee’s Madison earned the women's laurel.

See below for the 2013 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 and follow the ODAC on Twitter at @odacathletics.

ODAC Women's Championship - 6K Race
1. Bridgewater – 22 pts.
2. Eastern Mennonite – 58 pts.
3. Lynchburg – 90 pts.
4. Washington and Lee – 97 pts.
5. Roanoke – 148 pts.
6. Virginia Wesleyan – 155 pts.
7. Shenandoah – 187 pts.
8. Guilford – 217 pts.
9. Emory & Henry – 254 pts.
10. Randolph – 257 pts.

ODAC Men's Championship - 8K Race
1. Bridgewater - 50 pts.
2. Lynchburg– 88 pts
3. Washington and Lee – 97 pts.
4. Eastern Mennonite – 100 pts.
5. Guilford – 109 pts.
6. Roanoke – 136 pts.
7. Virginia Wesleyan – 184 pts.
8. Emory & Henry – 231 pts.
9. Shenandoah – 242 pts.
10. Hampden-Sydney – 268 pts.
11. Randolph - 283 pts.