Posted by Scott Cummings - Sat, Nov 8, 2008 - [ Women's Cross Country ] - Viewed 1978 times
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 7)-William Woods University outdistanced the field to take home the title in the 2008 American Midwest Conference Women's Cross Country Championship. The meet was held in Forest Park in St. Louis. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

The Owls posted 26 points to hold off runner-up Hannibal-LaGrange College for the championship. The top five runners for William Woods finished in the top eight of the individual standings. Kristi Palmer topped the list of All-Conference honorees for the Owls with her second-place effort.


With her winning effort of 17:54.43 on the five-kilometer course, Meagan Hudson from Missouri Baptist University was named the 2008 AMC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year. Hudson, a junior from Festus, Mo., was twice named as the AMC's weekly award winner this season.

Cheryl Held from William Woods was selected the 2008 AMC Freshman of the Year. The Wildwood, Mo., native was third in Friday's race in a time of 18:37.58.

The Owls also had the AMC Newcomer of the Year in Jessica Bollinger. A sophomore from Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Bollinger took eighth place in the AMC Women's Cross Country Championship with a time of 19:39.56.

For leading his team to the 2008 AMC team championship, Brayce Forsha from William Woods was honored as the AMC Coach of the Year.

The complete list of All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honorees is listed below:

2008 AMC Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team

2008 AMC Runner of the Year - Meagan Hudson, Missouri Baptist University
2008 AMC Freshman of the Year - Cheryl Held, William Woods University
2008 AMC Newcomer of the Year - Jessica Bollinger, William Woods University
2008 AMC Coach of the Year - Brayce Forsha, William Woods University

First-Team All-Conference
Meagan Hudson, Missouri Baptist University
Kristi Palmer, William Woods University
Cheryl Held, William Woods University
Sophy Yapsabila, McKendree University
Liesl Nauck, Hannibal-LaGrange College
Latrice Fletcher, William Woods University
LeeAnn Beard, William Woods University
Jessica Bollinger, William Woods University
Jasmine Penny, McKendree University
Jordan Locke, William Woods University

Academic All-Conference (minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale)

Hannibal-LaGrange College
Heather Dixon, Carissa Eichmeyer, Hannah Franke, Liesl Nauck, Karissa Walton

McKendree University
Sophy Yapsabila

Missouri Baptist University
Meagan Hudson, Katie Kline

William Woods University
Jessica Bollinger, Kristi Palmer