TicketsCINCINNATI - Madison Dunlap earned her first all-conference finish by placing 15th overall and both teams finished ninth in the standings as the 2017 American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships came to a close Saturday morning at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pa. The meet, hosted by Temple, saw both teams run a challenging course in the first conference championship event of the 2017-18 academic year.
// TEAM STANDINGS
The Bearcats men scored 218 points to finish ninth in the team standings while the women tallied 209 to also place ninth. On the men's side, Tulsa defended its crown with 53 points while UConn (63), Temple (70), ECU (145) and newcomer Wichita State (148) rounded out the Top 5 in the standings. The men were just three points back of Memphis, who placed eighth with 215 points.
On the women's side, UConn scored 34 points to upset defending champion SMU (63) while the host Owls (92), Tulsa (101) and Tulane (146) rounded out the Top 5. Similar to the men, the UC women were edged out of eighth place by Memphis, this time by one point as the Tigers scored 208 points on the day. Since coach Lara Crofford began working with the women, UC has posted its best two finishes in the AAC era and two of the Top 3 finishes since 2004.
// MEN'S 8,000m CHAMPIONSHIP
Nine men toed the line for the Bearcats with true freshman Ryan Guenthner leading the charge as the rookie covered the 8,000m terrain in 26:44.0 to finish 40th overall. The team's Top 5 came in tightly bunched as six positions separated the four men. Nick Grismer (27:13.7) was 50th with Steven Zombory (27:14.1) right behind in 51st. Branden Nosker (27:21.2) and Seamus Collins (27:30.5) rounded out the Top 5 as the finished 54th and 56th, respectively.
The Top 7 was rounded out by Spencer Clark (27:58.5) and Michael Vitucci (28:12.3), who finished 66th and 68th, respectively. The final two runners for the Bearcats were Jake Barnes (29:10.0) and Frank Pierce (29:24.6), who placed 79th and 82nd, respectively.
// WOMEN'S 6,000m CHAMPIONSHIP
In the second race the of the day, the women took to the 6,000m course where Dunlap ran an impressive race to finish 15th overall and earn all-conference honors for the first time in her career. She covered the course in 22:05.5, which also stands as a personal-best time, a feat made more impressive by the very hilly terrain she navigated Saturday.
Dunlap was followed through the finish area by Sam Mikula, who was 37th overall in 23:05.0. Tessa Ward was next in 47th place (23:25.1) with Meg Westerheide (23:35.8) and Hannah Markel (23:50.6) in 54th and 59th, respectively, to round out the scoring positions. UC's Top 7 was closed out by Lianne Masquelier (24:17.2) and Alexis Anton (24:22.8), who placed 70th and 74th, respectively. Two others also ran in the race, including Emma Hensley (24:30.8) and Grace O'Donnell (26:03.6), who placed 76th and 98th, respectively.
// NOTING THE WOMEN
• Dunlap became the 15th different Bearcats woman to earn all-conference honors in cross country in program history, collecting the 25th total honor in that span
• Her award is just the second earned in the AAC era by a UC woman after Juliana Madzia collected the first last year (13th place) and makes her just the fourth UC woman to earn the honor in a 6,000m event (Ruth Limo in 2002 & 2004; Angie Kist in 2000 & 2001)
• With Dunlap's award, the Bearcats have back-to-back years with at least one honoree for the first time since the 2000 and 2001 seasons
• As a team, the women posted just their second single-digit finish in their five years as members of the AAC, surpassed only by last year's sixth-place showing
• The 209 points scored are the second-fewest for UC in the AAC era (180 last year) and, when removing the 2016 results, stand as the fewest scored dating back to 2004 (152)
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats return to competition in two weeks as they will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., and the LaVern Gibson Championship Course to take part in the 2017 NCAA Great Lakes Region Championships on Friday, November 10. The meet is used as the selection tool for both teams and individuals to qualify to the final collegiate cross country race of the year, the NCAA Championships.
2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Belmont Plateau • Philadelphia, Pa.
Race #1 • Men's 8,000m Championship
Overall Team Standings:
1. Tulsa - 53
2. UConn - 63
3. Temple - 70
4. ECU - 145
5. Wichita State - 148
6. Houston - 159
7. Tulane - 175
8. Memphis - 215
9. CINCINNATI - 218
10. USF - 238
Overall Individual Results:
40. Ryan Guenthner - 26:44.0
50. Nick Grismer - 27:13.7
51. Steven Zombory - 27:14.1
54. Branden Nosker - 27:21.2
56. Seamus Collins - 27:30.5
66. Spencer Clark - 27:58.5
68. Michael Vitucci - 28:12.3
79. Jake Barnes - 29:10.0
82. Frank Pierce - 29:24.6
83 finishers
Race #2 • Women's 6,000m Championship
Overall Team Standings:
1. UConn - 34
2. SMU - 63
3. Temple - 92
4. Tulsa - 101
5. Tulane - 146
6. Wichita State - 173 (won tiebreaker over ECU)
7. ECU - 173
8. Memphis - 208
9. CINCINNATI - 209
10. Houston - 245
11. UCF - 321
12. USF - 323
Overall Individual Results:
15. Madison Dunlap - 22:05.5 - PR & All-Conference
37. Sam Mikula - 23:05.0
47. Tessa Ward - 23:25.1
54. Meg Westerheide - 23:35.8
59. Hannah Markel - 23:50.6
70. Lianne Masquelier - 24:17.2
74. Alexis Anton - 24:22.8 - SB
76. Emma Hensley - 24:30.8
98. Grace O'Donnell - 26:03.6
102 finishers
// TEAM STANDINGS
The Bearcats men scored 218 points to finish ninth in the team standings while the women tallied 209 to also place ninth. On the men's side, Tulsa defended its crown with 53 points while UConn (63), Temple (70), ECU (145) and newcomer Wichita State (148) rounded out the Top 5 in the standings. The men were just three points back of Memphis, who placed eighth with 215 points.
On the women's side, UConn scored 34 points to upset defending champion SMU (63) while the host Owls (92), Tulsa (101) and Tulane (146) rounded out the Top 5. Similar to the men, the UC women were edged out of eighth place by Memphis, this time by one point as the Tigers scored 208 points on the day. Since coach Lara Crofford began working with the women, UC has posted its best two finishes in the AAC era and two of the Top 3 finishes since 2004.
// MEN'S 8,000m CHAMPIONSHIP
Nine men toed the line for the Bearcats with true freshman Ryan Guenthner leading the charge as the rookie covered the 8,000m terrain in 26:44.0 to finish 40th overall. The team's Top 5 came in tightly bunched as six positions separated the four men. Nick Grismer (27:13.7) was 50th with Steven Zombory (27:14.1) right behind in 51st. Branden Nosker (27:21.2) and Seamus Collins (27:30.5) rounded out the Top 5 as the finished 54th and 56th, respectively.
The Top 7 was rounded out by Spencer Clark (27:58.5) and Michael Vitucci (28:12.3), who finished 66th and 68th, respectively. The final two runners for the Bearcats were Jake Barnes (29:10.0) and Frank Pierce (29:24.6), who placed 79th and 82nd, respectively.
// WOMEN'S 6,000m CHAMPIONSHIP
In the second race the of the day, the women took to the 6,000m course where Dunlap ran an impressive race to finish 15th overall and earn all-conference honors for the first time in her career. She covered the course in 22:05.5, which also stands as a personal-best time, a feat made more impressive by the very hilly terrain she navigated Saturday.
Dunlap was followed through the finish area by Sam Mikula, who was 37th overall in 23:05.0. Tessa Ward was next in 47th place (23:25.1) with Meg Westerheide (23:35.8) and Hannah Markel (23:50.6) in 54th and 59th, respectively, to round out the scoring positions. UC's Top 7 was closed out by Lianne Masquelier (24:17.2) and Alexis Anton (24:22.8), who placed 70th and 74th, respectively. Two others also ran in the race, including Emma Hensley (24:30.8) and Grace O'Donnell (26:03.6), who placed 76th and 98th, respectively.
// NOTING THE WOMEN
• Dunlap became the 15th different Bearcats woman to earn all-conference honors in cross country in program history, collecting the 25th total honor in that span
• Her award is just the second earned in the AAC era by a UC woman after Juliana Madzia collected the first last year (13th place) and makes her just the fourth UC woman to earn the honor in a 6,000m event (Ruth Limo in 2002 & 2004; Angie Kist in 2000 & 2001)
• With Dunlap's award, the Bearcats have back-to-back years with at least one honoree for the first time since the 2000 and 2001 seasons
• As a team, the women posted just their second single-digit finish in their five years as members of the AAC, surpassed only by last year's sixth-place showing
• The 209 points scored are the second-fewest for UC in the AAC era (180 last year) and, when removing the 2016 results, stand as the fewest scored dating back to 2004 (152)
// NEXT UP
The Bearcats return to competition in two weeks as they will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., and the LaVern Gibson Championship Course to take part in the 2017 NCAA Great Lakes Region Championships on Friday, November 10. The meet is used as the selection tool for both teams and individuals to qualify to the final collegiate cross country race of the year, the NCAA Championships.
2017 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Belmont Plateau • Philadelphia, Pa.
Race #1 • Men's 8,000m Championship
Overall Team Standings:
1. Tulsa - 53
2. UConn - 63
3. Temple - 70
4. ECU - 145
5. Wichita State - 148
6. Houston - 159
7. Tulane - 175
8. Memphis - 215
9. CINCINNATI - 218
10. USF - 238
Overall Individual Results:
40. Ryan Guenthner - 26:44.0
50. Nick Grismer - 27:13.7
51. Steven Zombory - 27:14.1
54. Branden Nosker - 27:21.2
56. Seamus Collins - 27:30.5
66. Spencer Clark - 27:58.5
68. Michael Vitucci - 28:12.3
79. Jake Barnes - 29:10.0
82. Frank Pierce - 29:24.6
83 finishers
Race #2 • Women's 6,000m Championship
Overall Team Standings:
1. UConn - 34
2. SMU - 63
3. Temple - 92
4. Tulsa - 101
5. Tulane - 146
6. Wichita State - 173 (won tiebreaker over ECU)
7. ECU - 173
8. Memphis - 208
9. CINCINNATI - 209
10. Houston - 245
11. UCF - 321
12. USF - 323
Overall Individual Results:
15. Madison Dunlap - 22:05.5 - PR & All-Conference
37. Sam Mikula - 23:05.0
47. Tessa Ward - 23:25.1
54. Meg Westerheide - 23:35.8
59. Hannah Markel - 23:50.6
70. Lianne Masquelier - 24:17.2
74. Alexis Anton - 24:22.8 - SB
76. Emma Hensley - 24:30.8
98. Grace O'Donnell - 26:03.6
102 finishers