The Skyhawk cross country teams finished ninth in the recent Ohio Valley Conference Championship meets held on campus.

Samford won the women’s 5K as sophomore Lauren Blankenship led the way with a time of 18:34.30.

Samford freshman Britney Almaguer recorded a time of 18:40.05 to finish second in the meet.

The Samford team victory ended Eastern Kentucky’s quest for a 21st OVC title.

Top runners for the UTM women’s team were junior Angelina Graciano, 26th overall, with a time of 20:29.65 and senior Shalaine Phaup, 36th overall, finishing in 21:00.63.

Rounding out the Skyhawk women’s team were Karen Taylor with a time of 22:55.66; Meagen Sturdivant with a mark of 23:20.98; and Hannah Clawson with a time of 25:06.02.

Finishing first for the men in the 8K was Jacob Korir, a freshman standout at Eastern Kentucky, with time of 25:23.47. Eastern Kentucky claimed the men’s team title with an average time of 27:08.05 ending Eastern Illinois’ four-year rein as OVC champions.

UTM’s top runners were junior Derek Kenwright, who finished 35th overall, with a time of 29:24.29 and freshman James Thomka, 54th overall, finishing with a time of 31:20.22.

Rounding out the Skyhawk men’s team were seniors Robby Clapper with a time of 31:42.61; Darrell Lewis with a mark of 31:53.85; Phillip Gordon who finished in 32:28.54; and Jeremy Coltharp who turned in a 33:17.29.

“I was very pleased with the championship events,” said Gordon Sanders, the Skyhawk’s first-year coach.

“With the many softball players, faculty, and staff that volunteered the meet went very smoothly.”

As for his Skyhawk runners, Sanders said his team missed the mark.

“I miss-timed our peak fitness. To focus on the positives, it was heartening to have all the seniors race at the championships, because six of the seven were injured when we had our first team meeting 10 weeks ago.”

Sanders said of his non-seniors, “half are walk-ons notching their first collegiate championship to their varsity experience. “This will be important next year with a team that will have as many freshmen as upperclassmen,” Sanders said.

Several runners will compete in the Nov. 13 NCAA Districts in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Sanders said his runners will also compete in distance events this spring during the track season.