Miami can’t capture MAC championship

By Grace Remington, For The Miami Student

The Miami University men's and women's cross country teams competed in the Mid-American Conference Championships Saturday morning at Riverwood Resort in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. The men's team finished seventh out of nine schools with 181 points, and the women placed third out of 12 with 103 points.

In the women's race, University of Toledo took first place and Eastern Michigan University took second. Eastern Michigan University, the University of Akron and Central Michigan University were the respective top three finishers for the men.

Both head coaches Kelly Phillips and Warren Mandrell described the results as "disappointing."

The women's squad goal had been to repeat as MAC champions.

"We didn't race well," Phillips said. "We didn't go out to win, and when you don't go out to win you get your butt kicked."

Senior Jess Hoover, however, placed sixth overall in the 6K with a time of 20:34 to capture a new school record. The record had been previously held by Rachel Patterson, who ran a 20:40 on November 13, 2010 at the Great Lakes Regional at Oakland University

"Jess raced really well," Phillips said. "She was in it to win it, so she was disappointed she only got sixth. There was a big pack in front of her, unlike past years."

Hoover was named First-Team All-MAC following the meet.

Senior Anna Lamb was 15th overall with a time of 21:17, and junior Laura Bess came in at 16th with a time of 21:21. Freshman Sarra Taylor (31st) and junior Brenna Poulsen (35th) rounded out the scoring five for the 'Hawks.

Phillps also pointed out Taylor had a great race for a freshman.

On the men's side, it was junior Joe Stewart who carried the Red and White.

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"Joe had a wonderful race," Mandrell said. "He put himself in there and did everything he could to get up in front."

Stewart placed third overall with a time of 24:21. He earned a lifetime best for the 8K and the a First-Team All-MAC selection in the process.

"He started pulling away from the leading pack with about 400 yards to go," Mandrell said. "It really came down to the wire. He lost to the second place guy by only one second."

Coming in second for Miami was senior Dan Garleb with a time of 25:35 and a 35th overall finish. Freshman Matt Bromley (46th), and sophomores Vince Moeglin (48th) and Stephen Biebelhausen (49th) were the rest of the scorers. Bromley and Moeglin also set new personal records.

Regardless of the multiple personal records, Mandrell thought the race was "lackluster."

"Their times were slower than they were on the muddy, more difficult course at Pre-Nationals," Mandrell said.

Both teams return to action Nov. 14 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet in Madison, Wisconsin, where they will attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championship.