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MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Southern Indiana men’s and women’s teams swept the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships on Friday, winning their first OVC cross country crowns in what is the program’s third year as members of the Conference.
The event was held on the campus of UT Martin, the first time the Skyhawks had hosted the event in west Tennessee since 2004 (they hosted the 2014 event in Oxford, Alabama).
The men’s race came down to a single point, as USI edged four-time defending champion Eastern Illinois 56 to 57. It was the first time the Championship had been decided by a single point since 2002. Host UT Martin was third (70 points) and followed by Southeast Missouri (108), Little Rock (151), Western Illinois (157), Tennessee Tech (160), Morehead State (188), SIUE (219) and Tennessee State (286).
OVC Athlete of the Year
Brady Terry backed up that regular season award by winning the individual crown, finishing the 8K race in 24:10.3, after he out kicked EIU’s
Joseph Stoddard down the stretch. Stoddard was the runner-up with a time of 24:11.8. It marked the second time in three years that a Southern Indiana runner won the OVC Championship (Noah Hufnagel in 2022).
Southern Indiana took home the women’s championship by 32 points, finishing with a team score of 41, ahead of two-time defending champion Eastern Illinois (73 points). Tennessee Tech was third (86) and followed by Little Rock (114), Western Illinois (136), Southeast Missouri (136), Morehead State (153), UT Martin (169), SIUE (215), Lindenwood (316), Tennessee State (348).
SEMO sophomore
Nova Ojutkangas continued her dominance of the season, posting a winning 6K time of 20:58.6, which was 38.5 seconds better than second place. It marked the biggest margin of victory at the OVC Women’s Championship since 2007. Tennessee Tech freshman
Rylee Wells was the runner-up.
Southern Indiana’s
Mike Hillyard was voted the OVC Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year following the race. It marked his first career OVC Coach of the Year awards.
Men's Awards
Athlete of the Year: Brady Terry, Southern Indiana
Athlete of the Championship: Brady Terry, Southern Indiana
Coach of the Year: Mike Hillyard, Southern Indiana
Freshman of the Year: Keagan Enicks, UT Martin
All-OVC First Team
Brady Terry, Southern Indiana
Joseph Stoddard, Eastern Illinois
Logan Lommel, Western Illinois
Noah Little, Southeast Missouri
Sam Shuman, UT Martin
Richie Jacobo, Eastern Illinois
Miceal McCaul, Tennessee Tech
All-OVC Second Team
Alex Nolan, Southern Indiana
Angus Monro, UT Martin
Keagan Enicks, UT Martin
Isaac Stanford, Southern Indiana
Brady Milliken, UT Martin
Michael Atkins, Eastern Illinois
Zach McPhee, Little Rock
Women's Awards
Athlete of the Year: Nova Ojutkangas, Southeast Missouri
Athlete of the Championship: Nova Ojutkangas, Southeast Missouri
Coach of the Year: Mike Hillyard, Southern Indiana
Freshman of the Year: Aaliyah Joshua, Little Rock
All-OVC First Team
Nova Ojutkangas, Southeast Missouri
Rylee Wells, Tennessee Tech
Mackenzie Aldridge, Eastern Illinois
Audrey Comastri, Southern Indiana
Ellie Hall, Southern Indiana
Zoe Seward, Southern Indiana
Brenda Torres, Eastern Illinois
All-OVC Second Team
Hadessah Austin, Southern Indiana
Aaliyah Joshua, Little Rock
Madison Trevena, Western Illinois
Helen Pacurariu-Nagy, Tennessee Tech
Kylie Haacke, Eastern Illinois
Laikin Tarlton, Morehead State
Makaleigh Jessee, Tennessee Tech