LANGHORNE, Pa. — Penn College's men's cross-country team, paced by Mitchell Campbell's third-place individual finish, scored 53 points and won the United East Conference Championship on Saturday, while the Penn College women, led by Elaina Brady's 14th-place, tallied 188 points and placed sixth.
The crown was the first for the Wildcat men in the NCAA era that began in 2014 and the first overall since 2012.
For their finishes, Campbell and teammates Matthew Woolcock, who placed sixth, and Alec Rees, who was seventh, earned United East first-team honors; and Holden Furey, who was 17th, and Jacob Parker, who was 20th, earned UE third-team nods. For the women, Brady was named to the UE second team and Skyelar Splain, who was 19th, to the UE third team.
Penn College men: Campbell was clocked in 28:44 over an 8K course while Woolcock finished in 29:05, Rees in 29:16, Furey in 31:30 and Parker in 31:46. Also, Dillon Betts was 23rd in 32:21 and Noah Bowers was 24th in 32:28.
The men's field: Coming in behind Penn College in the 12-team field were Lancaster Bible College with 54 points, St. Mary's (Md.) 77, Penn State Berks 130, Valley Forge 153, Gallaudet University 189, Cairn 204, Clarks Summit 226, Bryn Athyn 231, Penn State Harrisburg 252, Penn State Abington 258 and Rosemont 258.
Mitchell Gray, of Lancaster Bible College, finished first in a field of 91 in a time of 27:51.
Penn College women: Brady ran the 6K race in 29:22 while Splain finished in 29:44. Also for the Wildcats, Kayleigh Miller was 46th in 35:36; Natalie Greiner was 47th in 35:44; and Sofia Laspina was 70th in 46:59.
The women's field: St. Mary's (Md.) placed first in a 13-team field with 60 points and was followed by Lancaster Bible College 67, Cairn 101, Valley Forge 144, Bryn Athyn 187, Penn College 188, Clarks Summit 191, Penn State Berks 191, Gallaudet 200, Penn State Abington 214, Cedar Crest 231, Penn State Harrisburg 294 and Rosemont 314.
Dana Keller, of Lancaster Bible College, finished first in a field of 83 runners in a time of 24:36.
Up next: Penn College will compete in the NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic Championships, hosted by Susquehanna University at Lock Haven University's West Branch Cross-Country Course, on Saturday, Nov. 11, with the men's 8K race at 11 a.m. and the women's 6K race at noon.
