MAC Announces Cross Country Runners Of The Week

Women's Cross Country Runner Of The Week

Laura Neufarth, Miami, So., Centerville, Ohio (Ohio State)

All-Ohio Championship/5K

Time: 18:32.6

Neufarth won her fourth-straight race to start her RedHawk career by taking the Division I race at the All-Ohio Championship on Friday afternoon. Neufarth ran a 18:32.6 to help the RedHawks win the All-Ohio title over 11 other Ohio-based institutions.

Men's Cross Country Runner Of The Week

Craig Leon, Ohio, Grad Student, Van Wert, Ohio (Van Wert)

All-Ohio Championships/8k

Time: 25:24.1

Leon's third place finish has given the graduate student four straight top-three finishes in 2007. Leon, who graduated cum laude from Ohio in the spring with a degree in integrated language arts, took first in the first two event this season and placed third in the most recent meets. Leon is the first Ohio cross country runner to earn a pair of first place finishes since All-American Josh Ritchie captured five first place finishes in 1996. Leon also led the Bobcats to a third place team finish at the All-Ohio Championships in Delaware, Ohio.

Other Women’s Cross Country Nominations

Kelly McClure, Central Michigan, Jr., Iron Mountain, Mich. (Iron Mountain)

Michigan Intercollegiate/4K

Time: 14:53

McClure finished fourth among Division I runners in the event as CMU finished second as a team behind nationally ranked Michigan.

Kassandra Meholick, Kent State, Fr., New Cumberland, Pa. (Cedar Cliff)

All-Ohio Championships/5K

Time: 19:17.8

Meholick placed first for Kent State for the fourth consecutive meet, timing in at 19:17.8 to take 15th place overall.

Carime Reinhart, Ohio, Sr., Bascom, Ohio (Hopewell-Loudon)

All-Ohio Championships/5K

Time: 18:43.5

Reinhart's fifth place finish at the All-Ohio Championships led the Bobcats to a 2nd place finish at the event hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University. Reinhart has now finished in the top-five in two out of three meets this season after the winning the MAC Championship in 2006.

Samantha Draney, Western Michigan, Fr., Allegan, Mich. (Allegan)

Michigan Intercollegiate/4K

Time: 15:13.3

Draney was the top WMU finisher for the fourth time in as many races, placing ninth overall at the Michigan Intercollegiate last Friday.

Other Men's Cross Country Nominations

Riak Mabil, Central Michigan, So., Lansing Mich. (Grand Ledge)

Michigan Intercollegiates/8k

Time: 26:25.00

Mabil was the top Division I athlete in the race, leading CMU to the team victory over Detroit and Oakland.

Joe Parker, Kent State, Jr., Reynoldsburg, Ohio (Reynoldsburg)

All-Ohio Championships/ 8k

Time: 26:59.4

Parker finished first for the Golden Flashes and 25th overall in 25:59.4 at the All-Ohio Championships Saturday in Delaware, Ohio.