BETHANY, W.Va. –
Michael Harriman and
Hannah Kemp won individual championships and the West Liberty University men's cross country squad ran away with the team title here Saturday morning in the season-opening Bethany (W.Va.) Invitational.
Harriman led a stampede of Hilltoppers to the finish line in the 8,000-meter men's race with four West Liberty runners cracking the top 10. Harriman was first to the tape in a time of 26:25 - nearly 20 seconds ahead of his closest pursuer. Phil White (27:01) and
Jared Ullom (27:03) placed sixth and seventh, respectively, with
Brenden Sands (27:36) checking in at No. 10.
The Black and Gold finished with 42 points to easily outdistance Davis & Elkins (55) for the team title. Frostburg State (126), West Virginia Wesleyan (131) and Washington & Jefferson (142) rounded out the top five in the 12-team event.
Kemp, who went undefeated in the COVID-shortened Spring 2021 season to earn MEC Runner of the Year honors, picked up right where she left off with another dominating performance.
The talented junior held off a late surge from Point Park's Alyssa Campbell to win the 6,000-meter race in a time of 22:41 - seven seconds ahead of Campbell and nearly a minute ahead of the rest of the field.
Davis & Elkins took team honors in the women's race with 51 points. Point Park was a distant second at 96 while the Hilltoppers were sixth with 141 points.
The West Liberty cross country teams hit the trails again on Sept. 25 when they head to Lock Haven (Pa.) for the Lock Haven Invitational.
CROSS COUNTRY
Bethany Invitational
Men (8,000 meters)
Team Scoring
1. WEST LIBERTY 42; 2. Davis & Elkins 55; 3. Frostburg State 126; 4. W.Va. Wesleyan 131; 5. Washington & Jefferson 142; 6. Glenville State 163; 7. California (Pa.) 169; 8. Point Park 177; 9. Lawrence Tech 182; 10. Thiel 287; 11. PSU-Fayette 314; 12. Fairmont State 322
West Liberty Individuals
1.
Michael Harriman 26:25; 6. Phil White 27:01; 7.
Jared Ullom 27:03; 10.
Brenden Sands 27:36; 18.
Danah Phillips 27:57; 39.
Tavian Richardson 29:13; 43. Nathaniel Schneider 29:26
Women (6,000 meters)
Team Scoring
1. Davis & Elkins 51; 2. Point Park 92; 3. California (Pa.) 96; 4. W.Va. Wesleyan 120; 5. Lawrence Tech 126;
6. WEST LIBERTY 141; 7. (tie) Washington & Jefferson, Wheeling 209; 9. Fairmont State 224; 10. Frostburg State 238; 11. Glenville State 305; 12. Bethany 319; 13. Alderson Broaddus 321
West Liberty Individuals
1.
Hannah Kemp 22:41; 28.
Emily Louk 26:10; 33.
Nichole Groseclose 26:26; 37.
Savannah Moorehead 26:39; 42.
Blake Hull 27:18; 51.
Shania Keene 27:57; 58.
Jamie Fogle 29:18
