DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The sixth ranked Embry-Riddle men's country team heads to Lake Worth, Fla. this weekend for The 2014 Sun Conference Championships presented by Olympus Insurance. This year's meet is being hosted by Northwood, Ave Maria, Florida Memorial, Johnson & Wales, and St. Thomas.
The Eagles are looking to win their tenth consecutive conference title. ERAU dominated the conference meet last year as Eagle harriers took the top four individual spots in the race. Current Eagles
Vincent Bett,
Alec Hernandez, and
Paul McKenna all finished in the top three last year with Bett winning Sun Conference Runner of the Year honors as he placed first, and McKenna winning Newcomer of the Year.
Bett, Hernandez, and McKenna are all favorites to win this weekend's meet. Hernandez has been named conference Runner of the Week three times this season, the only runner to receive the honor multiple times in 2014. The senior has had four top five finishes this season and has been the Eagles' top finisher in four of the five races in which he has competed. McKenna picked up conference Runner of the Week honors once this year and is the only TSC Runner to earn the NAIA National Runner of the Week award after his first place finish at the South Florida Invitational (Sept. 5). Bett was also named league Runner of the Week once this season and has two top 20 finishes in the three races he has competed in.
Andrew Carpenter and
Keneth J Pineiro-Collazo are also expected to have impressive performances on Saturday. The two freshmen have been consistent scorers for team during their last few races. Carpenter and Pineiro-Collazo have improved their 8K times all season and have each set personal bests at their last two meets.
Overall, the Blue and Gold have won four of their six meets this season and are without a doubt the favorites to win the conference team title this weekend. If ERAU wins Saturday's meet, the team will automatically qualify for the NAIA National Championships in Lawrence, Kan.
Saturday's race will take place at the Fountains Country Club's South Course at 8 a.m.
