MACOMB, Ill. ? Oct. 27 ? Southern Utah's men claimed their second consecutive
conference title and the women captured their first since 2004 when the
Thunderbird cross country teams swept the Summit League championships in
Illinois on Saturday morning.
The men's title also marked the ninth time in the last 11 conference
championships that the trophy has gone home with the Thunderbirds. The women
also returned to form capturing the team's eighth title in 11 years in the
league.
“Our men all ran strong from top to bottom today,” head coach Eric Houle
said. “To be able to run with these new teams and remain at the top really
speaks well of the program and the kids we are able to recruit.”
SUU senior Mark Currell led the way for the Thunderbirds, finishing first
with a new course record of 24:47. Currell also garnered Male Athlete of the
Year honors for his effort.
Freshman Cam Levins earned Newcomer of the Year with his third-place finish,
also under the course record time, crossing the line with a time of 25:27.
Dave Sheeran also finished in the top ten for Southern Utah with a
ninth-place time of 25:44. SUU was the only team to have three runners finish
in the top ten.
Southern Utah's four and five runner, freshman Ryan Barrus (25:55, 13th) and
sophomore Donovan Tsinnijinnie (25:59, 14th), sealed the win for the
Thunderbirds. SUU was also the only school with its top five runners in the top
15 of the 78-athlete field.
The women's side was much closer with the top three teams divided by a single
point. In the end, the Thunderbirds tied the Mastodons of IPFW with 67 points,
but had a better finish from their non-scored sixth runner to capture the
championship.
“Our women did a great job of coming from fourth, from a year ago, to first
this year,” Houle said of the women. “They all trained hard this year with a
desire to return to the top and were able to do it with a very young squad.”
Sharla Platt, once again, paced Southern Utah, finishing second and on the
heels of ORU's all-American Faithy Kamangila with a time of 21:26. Kamangila
won the race and Female Athlete of the Year honors with a 21:19 finish.
Freshman Steffi Minson was the next finisher for the Thunderbirds in
11th-place, earning Newcomer of the Year honors as the top finisher among
freshmen in the league.
She was followed by Joanna Crowther (22:51, 13th), Madalyn Olpin (20th,
23:12) and Diana Medina in 21st with a time of 23:13. However, it was Southern
Utah's non-scoring sixth finisher in Kate Eborn who crossed the line in 26th
place (23:30) that broke the tie with IPFW and clinched the title for the
Thunderbirds.
Houle was named Coach of the Year on the men's side and will now turn
training into preparation for the NCAA Mountain Regional in Ogden on Nov.
10.
