LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The West Liberty University men's and women's cross country teams made their presence felt in a big way here Saturday as Lock Haven University hosted the 2021 NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships.
     Junior Hannah Kemp, the Hilltoppers' two-time MEC Runner of the Year, earned her second straight All-Atlantic Region honor with a Top 10 finish in the women's race while the senior duo of Phil White and Michael Harriman turned in All-Region performances of their own to lead Coach Justin Simpson's WLU men to a Top 10 finish in the men's race.
     Kemp ran with the lead pack throughout the 6000-meter women's race over the flat and fast course just missed earning an automatic qualifying spot for the NCAA national championships later this month with an 8^th-place finish but remains in the hunt for an at-large berth.
     The top three teams qualify for the national meet but the region's two at-large bids go to the top two runners from non-qualifying teams. Edinboro, Seton Hill and Charleston were the top three teams with UC's Elise Leveel taking individual honors in a time of 21:09.9.
     Kemp's 8^th-place time of 21:45.5 placed her third on the list of runners from non-qualifying teams in Saturday's regional but will be under consideration when the NCAA Championships Committee adds eight additional at-large individuals after all regionals are concluded.
     White and Harriman made history on the men's side as this marks the first time West Liberty has had multiple runners earn All-Region honors. This is White's second All-Region berth while Harriman is celebrating his first All-Region selection.
     Charleston ran away with the men's race, claiming six of the top 10 spots, but it was Concord's Isaac Prather who took individual honors. Prather's swift 30:35.6 clocking over the 10,000-meter men's course helped the Mountain Lions rise up to take the third national qualifying spot behind UC and runner-up Edinboro.
     White and Harriman led a strong showing from the WLU team which saw four runners place among the top 51 finishers. White was 14^th in a time of 31:44.3 with Harriman close behind in 19^th place at 31:49.7. Jared Ullom was the third Hilltoppers to the finish line, placing 47^th in a time of 32:59.1 with Danah Phillips placing 51^st in 33:06.3.
     The 2021 NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships will be held on Nov. 20 in Saint Leo, Fla.
         1. Charleston 22; 2. Edinboro 71; 3. Concord 98; 4. Shippensburg 116; 5. Slippery Rock 202; 6. Davis & Elkins 203; 7. WEST LIBERTY 211; 8. Indiana (Pa.) 230; 9. Lock Haven 240; 10. Bloomsburg 272; 11. West Chester 338; 12. Gannon 340; 13. Kutztown 368; 14. Mercyhurst 377; 15. East Stroudsburg 378; 16. California (Pa.) 468; 17. Seton Hill 470; 18. W.Va. Wesleyan 510; 19. Glenville State 546; 20. Pitt-Johnstown 579; 21. Mansfield 605; 22. Fairmont State 680; 23. Shepherd 704        14. Philip White 31:44.3; 19. Michael Harriman 31:49.7; 47. Jared Ullom 32:59.1; 51. Danah Phillips 33:06.3; 83. Brenden Sands 34:13.7; 115. Zac Banks 35:27.8; 121. Tavian Richardson 36:05.1        1. Edinboro 73; 2. Seton Hill 106; 3. Charleston 137; 4. Bloomsburg 153; 5. Lock Haven 165; 6. Gannon 214; 7. Slippery Rock 219; 8. Davis & Elkins 228; 9. Shippensburg 232; 10. Kutztown 259; 11. Clarion 287; 12. Concord 298; 13. California (Pa.) 315; 14. West Chester 332; 15. Indiana (Pa.) 360; 16. Mansfield 401; 17. Millersville 415; 18. WEST LIBERTY 473; 19. Fairmont State 558; 20. East Stroudsburg 571; 21. Pitt-Johnstown 595; 22. Mercyhurst 625        8. Hannah Kemp 21:45.5; 105. Savannah Moorehead 24:26.8; 125. Emily Louk 25:07.6; 129. Blake Hull 25:23.4; 132. Shania Keene 25:26.5; 156. Jamie Fogle 28:27.4