TULSA, Okla. - Sophomore Michael Castel led the Fighting Leathernecks at the 2011 Summit League Cross Country Championships with a tenth place overall finish in the men's 8K race. His 25:31.20 performance was rewarded with Second Team All-League accolades.
The men's team placed eighth out of ten teams competing, while the women finished 10th overall. Rounding out scoring for the men were junior Jeff Wooldridge (47th - 27:21.20), sophomore Zach Wiedeman (49th - 27:26.10), freshman Mark Holt (57th - 27:59.60) and freshman Andrew Hood (29:22.00).
In the women's race, freshman Kristen Bonsor led the way for the Leathernecks with a 49th place overall finish, crossing the line at 24:12.09. Sophomore Alycia Thurston (55th - 24:22.87), sophomore Chelsea Lynes (60th - 24:48.28), freshman Lydia Smith (64th - 25:02.12) and sophomore Mackenzie Gray (67th - 25:09.17) rounded out scoring for the women.
Southern Utah was able to run away with the team championship winning by an impressive 47-point margin. They were led by senior Cameron Levins, who took home the individual title and was also named Championship MVP for his 24:34.30 performance.
North Dakota State edged out Southern Utah on the women's side to earn the team crown by just a nine-point margin. Senior Diana Medina of Southern Utah took home the individual title crossing the line at 21:37.75 in the 6K race. Medina was awarded Championship MVP honors.
2011 Summit League Cross Country Championships - Award Winners:
Men's All-League Team
First Team
Cameron Levins, Southern Utah
Cosmas Ayabei, UMKC
Nate Jewkes, Southern Utah
Travis Fitzke, North Dakota State
Jeffrey Mettler, South Dakota
Greg Vollmer, South Dakota State
Shadrack Koech, Oral Roberts
Second Team
Zach Mathias, UMKC
Trent Lusignan, South Dakota State
Michael Castel, Western Illinois
John Hart, Southern Utah
Jared Ailts, South Dakota State
Kenny Wall, Oakland
Marty Joyce, North Dakota State
Championship MVP
Cameron Levins, Southern Utah
Newcomer of Championship
Trent Lusignan, South Dakota State
Coach of the Year
Eric Houle, Southern Utah
Women's All-League Team
First Team
Diana Medina-Mitchell, Southern Utah
Kristen Radcliff, Oral Roberts
Sheilah Ndasym, Oral Roberts
Brittni Hutton, Oakland
Sara Meiners, UMKC
Heidi Peterson, North Dakota State
Jordan Krahn, North Dakota State
Second Team
Jamie Smith, Southern Utah
Jylian Jaloma, UMKC
Rachel Zajac, IUPUI
Lia Jones, Oakland
Maddie McClellan, North Dakota State
Madalyn Jones, Southern Utah
Danielle Burke, South Dakota State
Championship MVP
Diana Medina-Mitchell, Southern Utah
Newcomer of the Championship
Abbi Aspengren, North Dakota State
Coach of the Year
Ryun Godfrey, North Dakota State