Posted by Scott Cummings - Sat, Nov 8, 2008 - [ Men's Cross Country ] - Viewed 964 times
(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 7)-William Woods University edged past McKendree University to take home the team title in the 2008 American Midwest Conference Men's Cross Country Championship Meet Friday at Forest Park in St. Louis. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE RESULTS

Both William Woods and McKendree had three runners that placed in the top seven individually in Friday's meet. However, senior Brent Almand claimed the overall championship, while teammates Phil Guidry and Emmanuel Ramirez finished third and fifth, respectively, to seal the crown for the Owls.

By taking first place on the eight-kilometer course in a time of 26:02.68, Almand was presented with 2008 AMC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year honors. Three different times this season, Almand was selected as the AMC Runner of the Week.

The 2008 AMC Cross Country Freshman of the Year is Darren Hooks from McKendree University. Hooks earned All-Conference honors with a seventh-place finish in the AMC Meet. Hooks is from Alhambra, Ill.

McKendree also claimed the AMC Newcomer of the Year in Elias Melly. A sophomore from Eldoret, Kenya, Melly had a strong effort in the AMC Meet by taking second place in a time of 26:25.90. Melly was a 2008 AMC Runner of the Week honoree.

Brayce Forsha was named the 2008 AMC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year. In his first year as the coach of the Owls' program, Forsha helped guide William Woods to its second straight team championship.

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

2008 AMC Men's Cross Country All-Conference Team

2008 AMC Runner of the Year - Brent Almand, William Woods University
2008 AMC Freshman of the Year - Darren Hooks, McKendree University
2008 AMC Newcomer of the Year - Elias Melly, McKendree University
2008 AMC Coach of the Year - Brayce Forsha, William Woods University

First-Team All-Conference
Brent Almand, William Woods University
Elias Melly, McKendree University
Phil Guidry, William Woods University
Kenneth Kibii, Missouri Baptist University
Emmanuel Ramirez, William Woods University
Michael Mendez, McKendree University
Darren Hooks, McKendree University
Philiph Tonui, Hannibal-LaGrange College
Keith Jennings, William Woods University
Jason Cline, Hannibal-LaGrange College

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

Hannibal-LaGrange College
Kevin Campbell

McKendree University
Michael Mendez, Carlos Marin

Missouri Baptist University
Tim Makubuya, Kyle Meyer

William Woods University
Brent Almand, Philip Guidry