KENOSHA, WIS. - The Villanova men returned to the winners stand after a four-year absence and the Butler women won their first league title at the 2019 BIG EAST Cross Country Championships presented by Jeep. The Championships were held at the Wayne Dannehl National Course in Kenosha, Wis., in very muddy conditions. Villanova men placed four runners among the top eight finishers. Butler women had all five scoring runners among the top 17.
Individually, Butler Euan Makepeace won the men's 8K in a time of 25:03.9. Villanova's Lydia Olivere was the women's champion with a time of 21:25.5 in the 6K run.
Results link: www.wisconsinrunner.com/results/2019BigEast.php
The Villanova men ended a four-year title run by Georgetown. The Wildcats edged the Hoyas 36-42. Wildcat senior Nathan Rodriguez was the individual runner-up with a time of 25:38.7. Senior teammate Andrew Martson took third place for a second straight year, covering the 8K in 25:42.1. Senior Casey Comber, who won last year's race, finished sixth at 25:47.3. Freshman Haftu Strintzos was eighth at 25:51.1. Georgetown senior Jack Van Scoter was the top Hoya, taking fourth place with a time of 25:44.5. It was his second consecutive fourth-place finish at the Championship. Van Scoter was followed by freshman teammate Price Owens in fifth at 25:44.9.
With his victory, Butler's Makepeace posted his third career top 10 finish at the BIG EAST Championship. He finished 35 seconds ahead of the pack. Makepeace finished fifth last year and was third in 2016.
The Butler women used their depth to end Villanova's two-year run as team champions. The Bulldogs, who compiled 52 points to Villanova's 61 points, finished from fifth through 17th. Junior Emily Royston took fifth with a time of 22:00.9. Junior teammate Angelina Ellis was right behind in sixth place at 22:06.2. Senior Josephine Thestrup posted her second straight BIG EAST top-10 finish by taking 10th in 22:16.4. Georgetown was close behind in third place with 65 points. The Hoyas' top performer was Madeline Perez, who was ninth with a time of 22:13.4.
Individually, Villanova's Olivere was the team's top returnee after finishing seventh last year. She held off Xavier junior Anna Kostarellis who finished 10 seconds behind Olivere with a time of 21:39.9.
The Villanova men's coaching staff, led by head coach Marcus O'Sullivan, was named BIG EAST Men's Coaching Staff of the Year. The Butler women's coaching staff, led by head coach Matt Roe, was selected BIG EAST Men's Coaching Staff of the Year.
Men's Individual Leaders
1.Euan Makepeace, Butler 25:03.9
2.Nathan Rodriguez, Villanova 25:38.7
3.Andrew Marston, Villanova 25:42.1
4.Jack Van Scoter, Georgetown 25:44.5
5.Price Owens, Georgetown 25:44.9
6.Casey Comber, Villanova 25:47.3
7.Simon Bedard, Butler 25:51.1
8.Haftu Strintzos, Villanova 25:51.1
9.Clark Otte, Butler 25:58.1
10.Shea Weilbaker, Georgetown 26:01.7
Men's Team Leaders
1.Villanova 36
2.Georgetown 42
3.Butler 58
4.Marquette 99
5.Providence 146
6.DePaul 187
7.Xavier 218
8.Creighton 227
9.Seton Hall 284
Women's Individual Leaders
1.Lydia Olivere, Villanova 21:29.5
2.Anna Kostarellis, Xavier 21:39.8
3.Ann Campbell, Villanova 21:55.5
4.Maria Coffin, Providence 21:56.5
5.Emily Royston, Butler 22:00.9
6.Angelina Ellis, Butler 22:06.2
7.Abbey Wheeler, Providence 22:09.3
8.Maggie Smith, Villanova 22:12.5
9.Madeline Perez, Georgetown 22:13.4
10.Josephine Thestrup, Butler 22:16.4
Women's Team Leaders
1.Butler 52
2.Villanova 61
3.Georgetown 65
4.Providence 92
5.Xavier 109
6.Marquette 149
7.Creighton 201
8.DePaul 250
9.St. John's 257
10.Seton Hall 287