Before besting the previous mark on Saturday, Annie Beecham did not even know what the Mid-American Conference meet record was.
The junior found out while winning the women's individual championship, running a 16:56.8, topping the old record of 17:00 held by Toledo's Tuula Laitinen.
It's amazing
she said. I never imagined that this much could happen and it's still setting in.
Beecham became the third runner in Ohio's history to win the individual championship, joining the ranks of Jackie Conrad and Carime Reinhart in accomplishing the feat.
Beecham also broke the old 5-kilometer school record of 17:00, held by Conrad.
I couldn't really have a better day I guess
she said.
Beecham was followed by junior Kari Summers. The two took the lead early and never looked back.
It was an incredible effort by those two to get up front
stay up front and to go one-two in the meet
coach Clay Calkins said.
The women's team finished third. The top five was rounded out by junior Jenielle Hunt, senior Rachel Beakas and junior Abigail Swift. All three runners broke their personal season records in the meet.
We ran awesome
Beakas said. Everyone did what they could. It was just tough. Third place is third place
but it was the best we could do. Everybody is happy with it.
For the men's team, senior Shamus Eaton came close to giving the Bobcats another First Team All-MAC runner. Eaton ran a 24:54.2, finishing five seconds behind Central Michigan's Sammy Kiprotch.
For Eaton, it was a personal record and gave him Second Team All-MAC honors.
It's frustrating to miss (First Team) by one spot
he said. I am really happy (with the result). It's definitely frustrating to see that it was that close. The guy from Central was there. I gave it everything I had
but I ran almost as good a race as I could have today.
The Bobcats placed fifth. Juniors Ridge Robinson and Todd Holbrook, freshman Tyler Cantley and redshirt sophomore Chris Davis finished the top five for the Bobcats. All of these runners except Robinson ran a season best.
I truly feel that this was our best team race of the year
Eaton said. That's what I told the guys when they came across the line today. I said
