Spring Break
RedHawk runners capture championship
JM Rieger
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Sports
The Miami University women's cross country team captured its second straight MAC Championship Saturday. This year's championship meet, hosted by Ohio University, marked only the second time in school history that the women's cross country team has captured the conference title.
The RedHawks totaled 44 points, finishing 19 points ahead of second-place Toledo, which beat Miami two weeks before at Pre-Nationals.
"They did an amazing job today. I couldn't be happier," first-year Head Coach Kelly Phillips said. "Honestly I can't take any credit for this group. I have to credit my predecessors for good recruiting but the team did an amazing job."
Phillips was named the 2009 MAC Coach of the Year, marking the second straight year a Miami coach has earned that honor.
Seniors Amanda Mirochna and Laura Neufarth placed third and fifth, respectively, earning them First-Team All-MAC honors. This marks the second straight year that Mirochna has earned this distinction, finishing with a time of 22:32.4.
"Amanda just ran amazing," Phillips said. "You could just tell from the start."
In addition, four RedHawks garnered Second-Team All-MAC honors. Senior Kelsey McHugh, juniors Rachel Patterson and Katie Lenahan and sophomore Maggie Bingham all finished within two seconds of each other, grabbing spots 11 through 14 respectively. This was the second straight year that McHugh, Patterson and Lenahan earned this distinction.
"Rachel Patterson was our hidden secret, as we decided last week that she would run," Phillips said. "They ran as a great pack and were fired up the whole time. It was really fun to watch."
Toledo's Ari Fisher won the individual MAC title, finishing 14 seconds ahead of Mirochna.
The RedHawks will be back in action in two weeks for the Great Lakes Regional Championship hosted by Indiana University, where Miami will try to qualify for the NCAA Championship.
Meanwhile, the men's cross country team placed fourth this past weekend at the MAC Championship. This marked just the second time since 1996 that the RedHawks didn't finish in the top three at the conference championship.
The RedHawks totaled 44 points, finishing 19 points ahead of second-place Toledo, which beat Miami two weeks before at Pre-Nationals.
"They did an amazing job today. I couldn't be happier," first-year Head Coach Kelly Phillips said. "Honestly I can't take any credit for this group. I have to credit my predecessors for good recruiting but the team did an amazing job."
Phillips was named the 2009 MAC Coach of the Year, marking the second straight year a Miami coach has earned that honor.
Seniors Amanda Mirochna and Laura Neufarth placed third and fifth, respectively, earning them First-Team All-MAC honors. This marks the second straight year that Mirochna has earned this distinction, finishing with a time of 22:32.4.
"Amanda just ran amazing," Phillips said. "You could just tell from the start."
In addition, four RedHawks garnered Second-Team All-MAC honors. Senior Kelsey McHugh, juniors Rachel Patterson and Katie Lenahan and sophomore Maggie Bingham all finished within two seconds of each other, grabbing spots 11 through 14 respectively. This was the second straight year that McHugh, Patterson and Lenahan earned this distinction.
"Rachel Patterson was our hidden secret, as we decided last week that she would run," Phillips said. "They ran as a great pack and were fired up the whole time. It was really fun to watch."
Toledo's Ari Fisher won the individual MAC title, finishing 14 seconds ahead of Mirochna.
The RedHawks will be back in action in two weeks for the Great Lakes Regional Championship hosted by Indiana University, where Miami will try to qualify for the NCAA Championship.
Meanwhile, the men's cross country team placed fourth this past weekend at the MAC Championship. This marked just the second time since 1996 that the RedHawks didn't finish in the top three at the conference championship.
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