Ohio Valley Conference

EIU's Dave Carlson

EKU's Wendee Embry

OVC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK - SEPTEMBER 21

MALE

DAVE CARLSON • EASTERN ILLINOIS • JUNIOR • McHENRY, ILLINOIS
Carlson captures his second straight OVC Male Athlete of the Week honor after clocking an 8K time of 24:50 (11 seconds off the winning time) to finish in second place at the EIU Panther Open on Sept. 17. The junior from McHenry, Ill., has posted sub-25 minute efforts in each of his last two outings, earning runner-up finishes in each.


FEMALE

WENDEE EMBRY • EASTERN KENTUCKY • SENIOR • CANEYVILLE, KENTUCKY
Embry has earned back-to-back OVC Female Athlete of the Week accolades after recording a third-place finish at the Dr. Mark Allen Old Timers Classic on Sept. 18. The senior from Caneyville, Ky., was the Lady Colonels' top runner in a field of 55, completing the 5K course in 17:50.73.


LAST WEEK'S RESULTS

EIU PANTHER OPEN - SEPTEMBER 17
Eastern Illinois hosted the EIU Panther Open last Friday, with the men's team posting a runner-up finish in the 8K race while the women's squad ran to a third-place in a 5K event.

Junior Dave Carlson broke 25 minutes for the second consecutive week and turned in his second straight runner-up finish to lead the Panther men, clocking a time of 24:50, 11 seconds off the winning time. Erik Werden also registered a Top 10 finish with a ninth-place time of 25:43. Rounding out the men's scoring were Dan Strackeljahn (12th/25:58); Nathan Pepper (16th/26:04) and Scott McNamer (17th/26:19).

On the women's side, sophomore Sarah Selby closed the gap late and ran to a second-place finish four seconds behind the winner, covering the course in a season-best time of 18:08. Following her in were Jaylee Carr (18th/19:18); Amanda Schutte (19th/19:27); Jessica Peach (20th/19:30) and Kirsten Bosnak (22nd/19:45).


QUEEN CITY INVITATIONAL - SEPTEMBER 17
Sophomore Sarah McClellan was the top overall finisher for the Morehead State men's and women's cross country teams as they each took second in the four-team Queen City Invitational in Cincinnati. McClelland (19:25.92) finished second among the collegiate runners in the 5K to help the Lady Eagles.

Senior Alessa Velez finished in fifth place (20:04.89), followed by sophomore Aubrey Walker (8th/20:24.11); freshman Sara May (9th/20:33.86) and junior Alicia Brown (14th/21:31.00).

The men were led by sophomore Jose Solis, who clocked a ninth-place time of 26:46.30. Junior James Clements was 10th in 26:53.90, followed by freshmen Mike Erwin (14th/27:12.82), Alex Hagan (16th/27:24.70) and Steve Thieme (17th in 27:33.89).


TENNESSEE STATE-MURRAY STATE DUAL MEET - SEPTEMBER 18
Murray State and Tennessee State competed in a head-to-head dual meet, with TSU winning the women's two-mile event and the Murray State men claiming victory in the four-mile race.

Three Lady Tigers registered Top-5 finishes to pace TSU's efforts, with Rae'ven Richards (13:31), NaQuanza Alfred (13:35) and Felicia Jeffers (13:45) posting stair-step finishes by taking the number three through five spots, respectively. Rounding out the scoring efforts were Tierra Boyd (14:09) and Rebekah Robinson (14:24).

Murray State's Lindsey Neely (12:53) won the women's event with a time of 12:53, while Megan Rainville (13:16) followed her in second. Coming in behind them were Trista Curtis (6th/13:50); Tiffany Cowan (11th/15:57) and Chantal Curtis (12th/16:10).

On the men's side, Murray State's John Gorey led the pack with a first-place time of 22:40. Brett Klima (23:55) was third, while Nathen Clinkenbeard (4th/24:30) and John Skinner (6th/29:10) also recorded Top-10 finishes.

For the TSU men, Joshua Love clocked a time of 23:27 as the runner-up. He was followed by Pat Roberson (5th/28:41); Saihou Mbehga (7th/29:28); David Lettern (8th/31:20) and Marcus Morris (9th/33:21).


DR. MARK ALLEN OLD TIMERS CLASSIC - SEPTEMBER 18
Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee-Martin and Tennessee Tech all competed in the Dr. Mark Allen Old Timers Classic on Sept. 18. No team scores were kept in the meet, which was hosted by Western Kentucky University.

On the men's side, APSU freshman Josh Yeckerling posted a 28th place finish in the 60-man field, running the five-mile course in 27:55.75. Senior Matt Duncan was the next Gov across the line, in 37th place, finishing 28:52.83. Sophomore Jimmy Clark (29:10.32) and freshman Matt Rowe (29:15.52) placed 40th and 41st, respectively. Senior John Beamer (31:09.37) rounded out the APSU effort in 53rd.

For the APSU women, freshman Cherice Allison led the Lady Govs with a 38th place finish, completing the 5K course in 21:24.44. Sophomore Denise Honea (21:58.33) and freshman Danja Yates (21:59.04) were 42nd and 43rd, respectively, while freshman Deanna Hensley (50th/25:27.29) and sophomore Tia Hendricks (/53rd/29:49.55) closed out the Lady Govs' scoring.

EKU senior Wendee Embry posted a time of 17:50.73 in the 5K run. Freshman Katy Ankrom came in seventh with a time of 18:07.46, while junior Erica Nichols (18:25.46) and junior Kellie McClung (18:27.72) took 10th and 11th, respectively. Junior Shannon Tobias crossed the finish line in 13th (18:34.76) to round out the Lady Colonels' scoring.

The EKU men were once again led by junior Steve Maina, who finished 10th with a time of 25:53.35 in the five-mile run. Four other Colonels placed in the Top-25, with junior James Machungo (26:22.43) and freshman Jacob Fortney (26:29.90) coming in 13th and 14th, respectively. Sophomore Cornelius Kipkuri placed 19th with a time of 26:39.73, while freshman Bryan Buchanan ran a 27:05.07 to finish 21st.

Angelina Gracian recorded UT Martin's only Top-20 finish, completing the course in 18:51.76 for a 19th-place effort. Following her on the women's side were Shalaine Phaup (25th/19:17.88); Karen Taylor (44th/22:01.22) and Hannah Clawson (46th/23:30.88).

For the Skyhawk men, Derrick Kenwright led the squad with a time of 27:53.66 to finish in 26th place. James Thomka (30:11.91) and Jay McCurdy (30:47.07) placed 48th and 51st, respectively, while Robby Clapper was 54th (31:23.02) and Philip Rhodes (32:04.20) was 56th.

Alathea Thompson clocked a time of 19:09.30 (21st) to pace Tech in the women's race. Diedra Garrett finished 26th with a time of 19:23.13 to add to the women's effort. Following closely behind Garrett and Thompson were Maggie Silvers (37th/20:48.43); Ginger Wilkey (39th/21:45.45) and Molly McCarthy (40th/21:50.45).

On the men's side, Jimmy Mittlestat ran a time of 28:05.49 (30th) to lead Tech. Finishing right behind Mittlestat was Spencer Whittier, who recorded a time of 28:38.46 to finish 33rd. Rounding out the top five runners for the Golden Eagle men were Chris Perry (36th/28:47.76); Ryan Pressley (39th/29:06.13) and Andrew Wisniewski (42nd/29:15.72).