ECU WOMEN SEE REIGN END IN CROSS COUNTRY

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Kentucky's seemingly endless reign in women's cross country did just that on Saturday as Morehead State ended a string of 18 consecutive Ohio Valley Conference championships for the Lady Colonels on Saturday at the conference meet.

Morehead State finished with 47 points as Eastern Kentucky placed second with 60. Eastern Illinois had 69 and was followed by Southeast Missouri (101), Tennessee Tech (127), Austin Peay (151), Tennessee State (156), Murray State (201) and Tennessee-Martin (257).

Eastern Illinois won the men's title running away, boasting eight of the top nine finishers in compiling just 19 points. Eastern Kentucky was a distant second at 64 and was followed by Murray State (65), Tennessee Tech (114), Morehead St. (120), Southeast Missouri (164), Austin Peay (207), Tennessee-Martin (242) and Tennessee State (253).

Morehead State's Susie Anderson won the women's race, covering the 5-kilometer course in 17:58 to finish seven second ahead of Southeast's Amy Arteme.

Southeast's Kaci Pilcher placed fourth in 18:11 to earn first-team all-OVC honors. The Otahkians other placers: Jessie Thompson (19:22, 25th), Jenny Burke (19:40, 32nd), Jenn Brown (19:54, 38th) and Carmen Owens (20:36).

The men's 8-kilometer race was won by Eastern Illinois' Jason Bialka, who posted a 33-second victory in 24:48. After Eastern Kentucky's Alan Horton, Panther runners occupied the next seven spots.

Chad Sierman led the Southeast men with a 29th-place finish in 27:39. The Indians' other finishers: Wes Armbruster (27:47, 30th), Jarod Tanz (27:58, 32nd), Dan Copeland (28:24, 38th), George Stevenson (28:27, 41st), Tyson Brown (29:13, 44th) and Adam Shupe (29:14, 45th).