Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

2012 xc tsc champs

Embry-Riddle Wins Eighth Straight Conference Crown, Kirwa Claims Fourth Conference Title

| By: Ryan Mosher | @ryan_mosher



LAKE WALES, Fla. - The 13th-ranked Embry-Riddle Eagles' cross country team continued it's dominance of The Sun Conference on Saturday morning, blowing away the rest of the field for the eighth conference title in program history, all in a row, dating back to 2005. Senior Evans Kirwa became the first runner in Sun Conference history to win the league meet four times, garnering his fourth Runner of the Year honor.

Kirwa finished the race in 25:06.91, nearly a full minute in front of SCAD Savannah's Ignacio Fernandez. Sophomore Vincent Bett placed third in 26:06.05, capturing Sun Conference Newcomer of the Year accolades. Alec Hernandez finished fourth in 26:21.24 and Zachary Kraus ran a 26:39.51 for a seventh-place showing. Jacob Dordick rounded out the Embry-Riddle scorers in 12th position, running in a time of 27:09.40.

The Eagles' 27 points was almost half of second-place finisher Webber International's 52. SCAD Savannah finished third with 57 points, while Warner (143) and the University of South Carolina Beaufort (165) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Paul Meesala finished 14th in the race in 27:25.11, the fastest time of his career. Jason Riggs (27:30.79), Jamin Mays (27:36.60) and Joshua Guerrero (27:52.95) placed 16th, 17th and 18th for the Eagles and freshman Makynzee Balucas was the final Eagle to compete, running a 31.34.26 for 42nd place.

Kirwa paced the six Eagles on the All-Conference teams, joining Bett, Hernandez and Kraus on the first team, while Dordick and Meesala earned second team honors.

The Blue and Gold now earns an automatic berth to the NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Fort Vancouver, Wash. The 32-team event takes place on Nov. 17, 2012.

Men's Results
Sun Conference Championship
Eagle Team Finish Points Total Teams
1st 27 9
Individual Eagles Finish Time
Evans Kirwa* 1st 25:06.91
Vincent Bett* 3rd 26:01.58
Alec Hernandez* 4th 26:21.24
Zachary Kraus* 7th 26:39.51
Jacob Dordick* 12th 27:09.40
Paul Meesala 14th 27:25.11
Jason Riggs 16th 27:30.79
Jamin Mays 17th 27:36.60
Joshua Guerrero 18th 27:52.95
Makynzee Balucas 42nd 31:34.26
* Scorers


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