Bowling Green, KY - The (RV) women's cross country team had six runners finish in the top 20 as UC won the 2021 Mid-South Conference Championship Friday afternoon at Phil Moore Park. This marks the first time the Patriots have won back-to-back conference championships since the 2004-2005 seasons. Their first-place finish earns UC an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships in Vancouver, WA, later this month.

In addition to the team's success, the Patriots earned a trio of top awards at the championships, highlighted by Lydiah Strauel garnering the MSC Freshman of the Year honors.  Head Coach Randy Greer earned MSC Coach of the Year award for the second consecutive season, while Jamen Helton was voted the MSC Assistant Coach of the Year.

"Jamen has been great all year and deserves that award for his hard work. I am honored to be selected coach of the year, but it's a testament to our ladies and what they have done all year," said Greer. 

 

Junior Meredith Elstun led the way for UC in today's race, finishing eighth overall. The Fairfield, OH native paced a time of 19:36.6, earning her First Team All-Conference honors. The Patriots raced at this course back in September, where they also placed first as Elstun improved her time from that race by over 20 seconds.

"I felt really strong on the course today," said Elstun. "It means a lot to come in the top ten and I'm so proud of the team for how they competed as well."

5th-year senior Lauren McHan was the second Patriot to cross the finish line, running a time of 19:41.1. This earned the Blountsville, AL native tenth place and All-Conference honors for the fifth time in her career. McHan earned her third consecutive First-Team All-Conference award to go along with the two Second-Team awards that she earned in the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

"I knew what we needed to accomplish going into the race, and we got that done. I'm very happy with how the team performed. This is the best team experience I have ever been a part of and I am glad to share back-to-back MSC championships with my teammates," said McHan.

Kinsey Forgey crossed the finish line next for UC, placing 14^th overall. The junior paced a time of 19:51.9 for a spot on the Second-Team All-Conference list. This is Forgey's second time earning this honor after being named All-Conference last year as well.

Freshman Lydiah Strauel was the fourth UC runner to finish on the day. Strauel ran her 5k in 19:59.5 for a 15^th place finish. The Liberty, KY native earned Second-Team All-Conference honors and was named MSC Freshman of the Year for her performances this season. Strauel is just the sixth Patriot in program history to win this award and the first since 2017 when teammate Lauren McHan earned these honors.

Taylor Warren rounded out the Patriot scorers on the day with a 16th-place finish. Warren crossed the finish line in 20:02.5, improving her time in Bowling Green earlier in the year. Lauren Sanderson also found herself in the top-20 finishers on the day with an 18th-place finish. Sanderson ran a time of 20:08.1. Warren and Sanderson were the final Patriots mentioned on the All-Conference list, earning Second-Team honors. This is Warren's second year earning All-Conference honors as she was named to the First-Team last season.

Nevaeh Warren placed 33^rd with a time of 20:44.1. Ashley Terry finished just behind for 34^th in 20:47.5. Hannah Henage also placed in the top 50 on the day with a time of 21:29.8. Samantha Connelly (21:56.3), Morgan Lucason (21:59.4), Alisa Bowling (22:00.3), Tara Todd (22:43.1), Jenna Grogan (23:02.2), Kiara Cowan (23:50.5), Isabel Blatz (26:52.6) and Jessica Brown (27:12.7) rounded out UC's runners on the day.

Coach Greer was pleased with his team today saying, "We had a good day and accomplished our goal of winning conference and earning a spot at nationals. A lot of the girls weren't even satisfied with how they ran so you know we are in a good spot right now. I'm excited to go out to Vancouver and see how we do."

Cumberlands scored 63 points on the day, ahead of Thomas More and Shawnee State, who scored 90 and 100 points, respectively. Cumberland University earned the fourth-place spot with 134 points while Campbellsville found themselves right behind them with 139 points respectively.

The Patriots will be back in action on Friday, November 19^th as they travel west to Vancouver, WA for the NAIA National Championships. This marks the second year in a row UC has made a national appearance and they look to improve off of their 20^th place finish last season.

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