October 29, 2011
Grove City defends conference title
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College women's cross country team earned its 23rd straight Presidents' Athletic Conference title Saturday as the Wolverines recorded just 38 team points at the conference championships, hosted by Westminster College. Waynesburg finished second with 83 points and Westminster took third with 103.
Five Grove City runners earned All-PAC distinction by finishing in the top 14. Junior Ella Smith (Becker, Minn./Becker) led Grove City by finishing fourth overall in the 92-runner field. Smith covered the six-kilometer course in 24 minutes, 12.0 seconds.
Junior Mary Kate Breese (Mercer, Pa./Mercer) earned fifth in 24:14 while senior Mary Rachel Robbins (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) placed seventh in 24:20.9. Breese, Robbins and Smith all earned First Team All-PAC.
Sophomore Laurel Skorup (Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich) finished eighth (24:45.8), earning Second Team All-PAC. Junior Anna Dunsworth (Erie, Pa./Strong Vincent) joined Skorup on the PAC's Second Team by taking 14th in 25:24.5.
Junior Hillary Wilson (Solon, Ohio/Solon) earned 16th place in 25:30.7, one spot ahead of sophomore Cayla Clawson (York, Pa./Central York). Clawson finished 17th in a time of 25:33.2, giving Grove City seven runners in the top 20.
Head coach Sean Severson earned the conference's Coach of the Year award.
Saint Vincent's Ivette Mejia earned medalist honors with a time of 22:33.2.
Grove City will compete in the Wooster Twilight 5K Friday night. The Wolverines will compete in the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships November 12 in Center Valley, Pa.