Heller Runs Way Into Kent State Record Books With Third-Place Finish at MAC Cross Country Championships
10/27/2012 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Redshirt senior becomes first four-time all-conference performer in Golden Flashes history.
2012 MAC Cross Country Championships (Men's Results)
2012 MAC Cross Country Championships (Women's Results)
GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. – Redshirt senior Michael Heller (Stow, Ohio) became the first four-time all-conference runner in Kent State history with a third-place finish (24:50.0) at the 2012 Mid-American Conference Championships on Saturday at Beaver Island State Park in Grand Island, N.Y.
Kent State's men's team finished sixth at the meet with 164 points, while the women's team placed ninth with 213 points and only seven points behind Eastern Michigan for eighth-place.
Heller's third-place finish is a one-spot improvement from a year ago and the best finish for a Kent State runner since Aimon Scullion in 2009. It also marked the second consecutive year that Heller has earned First Team All-MAC honors after Second Team honors in his first two years running for the Golden Flashes.
Four additional Golden Flashes finished in the top 50 on Saturday. Redshirt junior Steve Fischer (Hudson, Ohio) finished 32nd (25:53.3), junior Andrew Goodwin (Celina, Ohio) finished 40th (26:07.3), sophomore Russell McCune (Wadsworth, Ohio), finished 44th (26:17.2), and redshirt freshman Samuel Allen (Bay Village, Ohio) finished 45th (26:18.0). Also competing for the Flashes were sophomore Matt Kahl (Mason, Ohio), who finished 57th (27:13.6), and sophomore Adam Kendrick (Westerville, Ohio), who finished 63rd (28:06.2).
On the women's team, senior Alexandria Vintevoghel (Casco, Mich.) paced the Golden Flashes for the fourth time this season. Vintevoghel crossed the finish line in 22:21.6 to finish 23rd. Redshirt junior Melinda Sawnor (Rochester, N.Y.) finished 38th with a time of 22:37.0, freshman Hannah Fleck (Celina, Ohio) placed 43rd in 22:46.9, freshman Rachel Slingluff (Chesterland, Ohio) finished in 22:57.1 for 52nd-place, and redshirt sophomore Paige Foster (Prior Lake, Minn.) rounded out the scorers for the Flashes by completing the course in 23:12.2 to place 57th. Freshman Brigid Callaghan (Newmarket, Ontario) finished 76th in 24:05.7 and sophomore Marie Egbert (South Charleston, Ohio) finished 84th in 24:37.9.
Eastern Michigan made it three straight years as men's champion, winning its 16th title fall-time 68 points. The Eagles' Terefe Ejigu won his second individual title in the past three season with a first-place time of 24:44.5. Toledo earned a championship repeat on the women's side with 33 points. Ohio's Juli Accorso defended her conference crown, finishing in a time of 20:48.4.
Kent State is idle next weekend as they as continue preparation for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Madison, Wis. on Nov. 9.
MAC Championships Highlights:
