RIO GRANDE, Ohio -- WVU Tech men's cross country has now taken the title of River States Conference Champion for the third consecutive season after a standout race Saturday in Rio Grande. 

Senior Michael Ecker-Randolph led all runners, crossing first with a time of 26:37 in the 8k. The St. Petersburg, Florida native earned River States Conference Runner of the Year for the second consecutive season and a spot on the RSC All-Conference First Team.

Junior Nathan Morton was next for the Gold and Blue, posting a fourth place finish with a time of 27:31. Morton, who hails from Christiansburg, Virginia, also earned First Team RSC All-Conference honors as finishers 1-7 earned those accolades.

Fellow junior Gregory Panther is RSC All-Conference Second Team as he posted a time of 28:19 and was the eighth runner to cross the finish line.

Finishing out Tech's top five included junior Aidan Hearne who was 18th overall (28:52) in a field of 86 competitors while sophomore Joseph Schmitt was 26th (29:42). 

Hearne, who hails from Moore, South Carolina was named Tech's Champion of Character. One athlete from each school who best represents the NAIA Champions of Character core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship is awarded this honor.