Women's XC | 11/4/2018 6:56:00 PM

OWENSBORO, Kentucky -- Point Park (Pa.) University made it back-to-back championships with its team title on Saturday, November 3 at the 2018 River States Conference (RSC) Women's Cross Country Championships in Owensboro. WVU Tech finished fifth out of 12 teams with 149 points. The championship meet was hosted by Brescia (Ky.) University.

The Golden Bears were led by freshman Kara Sandusky who finished 16^th out of 103 runners with a time of 20:17.09. Sandusky was followed by sophomore Kaeley Boyd who crossed 23^rd with a time of 20:52.15. Also competing for the Gold and Blue were sophomore Jaelynn Parks (24, 20:54.52), freshman Annmarie Gruttadauro (45, 21:49.32), sophomore Hannah Pride (47, 21:50.85) and freshman Alisa Kuchmak (51, 21:58.11).

Also named at the championship was the 2018 RSC Women's Cross Country Champions of Character Team. It includes one member from each team nominated by her head coach who best exhibits the five character values of NAIA Champions of Character of respect, responsibility, servant leadership and sportsmanship.Boyd was named Tech's Champion of Character.

Point Park scored 28 points to top the team standings. IU East placed second with 85 points to edge Ohio Christian University with 86. IU Kokomo placed fourth with 115 points followed by WVU Tech in fifth with 149 and University of Rio Grande (Ohio) in sixth with 160 to round out the top half of the field. 

Point Park's Anna Shields won her second straight RSC individual title by placing first overall with a time of 17:42. That set a course record for the NAIA All-American, and she was once again named the RSC Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Point Park freshman Alyssa Campbell placed second individually on her way to claiming RSC Women's Cross Country Newcomer of the Year. She posted a time of 18:28. Point Park swept the individual awards with head coach Kelly Parsley being voted RSC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year.

The top seven finishers earned All-RSC First Team honors with the next second being tabbed All-RSC Second Team. Point Park led the way with six all-conference honorees with three each on the first and second teams. The Pioneers had five runners in the top 10. 

With the victory, Point Park advances as a team to the NAIA National Championship Nov. 16 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Pioneers are ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Top 25. Runner-up IU East would advance as well if it gets ranked in the Top 30 of Monday's final rankings.

The top six individuals not from an automatically qualifying team will also go on to nationals. In line for that barring a second bid from the RSC would be Ariel Young (3rd place, 18:30) from Ohio Christian, Lucy Williams (4th, 18:36) from Rio Grande, Brittany Slong (5th, 18:56) from IU Kokomo, Ashley Toscholog (7th, 19:08) from IU East, Alyssa Turrentine (8th 19:16) from Ohio Christian and Lexi Jackson (11th, 19:30) from IU Kokomo.

The following are the RSC Women's Cross Country award winners for 2018:

2018 ALL-RIVER STATES CONFERENCE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS & AWARDS

RSC Runner of the Year: Anna Shields (Sr.), Point Park (Pa.)
RSC Newcomer of the Year: Alyssa Campbell (Fr.), Point Park (Pa.)
RSC Coach of the Year: Kelly Parsley, (4th year), Point Park (Pa.)

2018 ALL-RSC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY FIRST TEAM

ALL-RSC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SECOND TEAM

RSC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONS OF CHARACTER TEAM