Cross Country
2012 Middle Atlantic Conference Championships

Men's Results
Women's Results

DALLAS, Pa. - Freshman Kelsey Patrick became LVC's first-ever Middle Atlantic Conference individual champion, heading six all-MAC finishes at the 2012 MAC Championships at Misericordia.

Patrick ran five seconds clear of the field to win in 23:37, earning not only the gold medal but MAC Runner and Rookie of the Year honors. Cynthia Adams and Alyssa Miller earned second-team all-MAC finishes for the women; Eliott Bonds repeated as a first-team all-MAC selection for the men, placing eight, and Andrew Goelz and Michael Harnish were second-team all-MAC.

LVC's men finished fifth out of 17 teams with a 120 team score; the women were fourth of 17 with an 86 team score.

"Today was a tough day because we fell slightly short of meeting our seasonal goals.  That is always a tough pill to swallow," said Head Coach James O'Brien '07. "However - and more importantly - everyone put what they had out there.  Our results were still very good and we put ourselves right in the mix.  We can be proud of that."

Patrick turned in a 3:56/km pace to lead the field ahead of Elizabethtown's Traci Tempone, becoming just the third Dutchman woman to earn a MAC medal. Cynthia Adams added her second career all-MAC finish in 25:11, finishing 14th, and Alyssa Miller was 18th to also earn her second all-MAC honor. Dana Stockdale, last year's rookie of the year, finished 23rd in 25:44, and Amber Shay was the fifth scorer in a 30th-place 26:11. Emily White (26:46, 38th) and Hannah Jones (27:28, 48th) rounded out the seven-deep for the Valley.

"Kelsey's performance was just out of this world," O'Brien said. "We thought she had the tools for a top-three  finish but she just kept herself in contention and made a final move that no one was able to match. Cynthia did the best she could with a calf strain. Alyssa Miller ran a brilliant race tactically to move up throughout and Amber Shay ran hands down the best race of her life"

On the men's side, Bonds popped an eighth-place finish in 27:10 to repeat as a first-team all-MAC finisher, while Goelz wound up 12th in 27:16 ahead of Harnish's 16th-place 27:32. Freshmen Stephen Chappell (28:55, 38th) and Cody Lloyd (29:22, 46th) rounded out LVC's scoring, with Patrick Tierney (30:52, 73rd) and Mark Garraway (31:08, 79th) placing 6th and 7th for the Dutchmen.

"Eliott, Andrew, and Michael (who is recovering from pneumonia) all put out huge efforts today.  This is the first time in my career that we had three in the top 20 and they are all within striking distance of the front. Stephen and Cody ran with great heart for freshman, I was impressed by their efforts.  We return 6 of our top 7 next fall which is exciting for us."