EKU, MOREHEAD FIRST IN OVC CROSS COUNTRY

Powerful Eastern Kentucky was expected to win both the men's and women's divisions in Friday's Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championships hosted by Southeast Missouri State University.

The Lady Colonels held up their end of the bargain as they rolled to their 14th straight OVC title.

But the EKU men saw their string of sixth straight OVC crowns snapped by Morehead State.

Southeast finished second on the women's side and third in the men's division on the course near the Abe Stuber Track & Field Complex.

EKU's women had a perfect score of 15 as they captured the top five spots, led by champion Sarah Blossom, who covered the five-kilometer course in 18:16.60.

Southeast scored 48 points for second while Tennessee Tech had 79 points for third.

Rounding out the women's field were Tennessee-Martin (118), Murray State (125), Morehead State (128), Tennessee State (214), Austin Peay (220) and Middle Tennessee State (230).

The Otahkians were led by Misty Dubman, who finished sixth (19:32.80) to earn first-team all-OVC honors.

Rounding out the Otahkians' top five finishers were Jennifer Anderson (8th, 19:40.10), Amy Cole (10th, 19:43.60), Terry Lange (11th, 19:45.70) and Misty McGhee (13th, 19:52.90).

On the men's side, Morehead State won with 36 points while EKU had 51 and Southeast 59.

Then came Murray State (123), Tennessee Tech (124), Austin Peay (143), Tennessee-Martin (197), Middle Tennessee State (201) and Tennessee State (222).

Murray State's Jason McKinney captured individual honors, covering the eight-kilometer course in 25:55.00.

Southeast was led by Brian Carter, who was eighth (26:55.00).

Rounding out the Indians' top five finishers were Chris Monty (10th, 26:58.00), Steve Watson (12th, 27:00.00), Erin Roades (14th, 27:13.00) and Glenn Lomenick (15th, 27:16.00).