Ivanna Sabino, Sports Information Assistant
Rocky Mount, North Carolina –
In typical fashion, and for the third year in a row, the Berea College women's cross-country team dominated the USA South Conference Championship. Placing first out of the 15 competing teams, Berea College continues to make history, and continues on to compete in the next level. Earning a low score of 41 points, the Mountaineers took first by 45 points.
Leading for the Mountaineers and winning the first ever women's cross-country USA South Conference championship in Berea College history was senior Jamie Welch. She ran a time of 23:02 and earned the USA South Runner of the Year award, as well as 1st Team All-Conference honors. Following her lead, junior Rachel Melstead placed 6th, with a time of 23:56. Melstead also earned the honors of 1st Team All-Conference. Sophomore Mary Beth Melhuish came across in a time of 24:09 and received 2nd Team All-Conference honors. In a tight pack, finishing 12th, 13th, and 14th, all earning 2nd Team All-Conference honors was junior Ivanna Sabino and seniors Hayley Clark, and Jenna Hughes. Sabino ran a time of 24:44, followed by Clark with a time of 24:48, and Hughes with a time of 24:51.
Continuing for the Mountaineers, sophomore Bethany Bigler ran a time of 25:08, finishing in 17th place, earning 3rd Team All-Conference honors. Senior Caitlyn Roberts had a final time of 25:37 and placed 19th, also earning 3rd Team All-Conference honors. Junior Tylan Eastam finished 30th, with a time of 26:25, earning Honorable Mention All-Conference Honors. Other finishers for the mountaineers include freshman Diana Espinoza, who finished 46th and ran a time of 27:46, and sophomore Britany Ortiz Perez, who finished 60th and finished with a time 28:39.
The Mountaineers will continue to travel to the NCAA DIII South/Southeast Regional Championships in Memphis, Tennessee in 2 weeks on Saturday, November 16th.