SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Adams State of Colorado walked away with both the men’s and women’s team championships Saturday in the 2008 NCAA® Division II Cross Country Championships at Cooper’s Lake Campground.

 

The Grizzlies bettered in-state rival Western State by a 67-88 margin to claim the men’s team title and held a 79-102 advantage over Grand Valley State of Michigan in the women’s team competition.

 

Junior Aaron Braun led the Adams State men’s effort with a second-place individual finish and a time of 30:36 on the 10K course. Teammate Brian Medigovich, also a senior, placed fifth in the individual competition with a time of 31:24, while junior Ryan McNiff was 16th with a 31:42 time, junior Luke Cragg was 24th at 31:57 and junior Florian Theopile was 31st at 32:03.

 

Senior Scott Bauhs of Chico State won the individual championship with a time of 30:21 and led his team to a third-place team finish. Senior Angel Marquez finished 23rd in the individual competition with a time of 31:55, junior Michael Wickman was 32nd at 32:05 and junior Beau Rogers finished 35th with a 32:10 time.

 

Junior Iain Donnan led the Western State effort with a fifth-place individual finish and a 31:14 time. Sophomores Loren Ahonen, Tyler Pennel and Sean Brown finished 12th, 14th and 28th, respectively, with times of 31:38, 31:39 and 32:01.

 

Chico State and Abilene Christian finished third and fourth in the team standings, followed by Grand Valley State, Harding, Queens of North Carolina, Minnesota State Mankato, Colorado School of Mines and Western Washington.

 

Senior Heather Woods led the Adams State women’s effort with a third-place finish and time of 21:37. Senior teammate Lavenna Mullenbach finished 14th with a time of 22:01, while freshman JJ Lende was 27th at 22:28, junior Janette McCarroll 30th at 22:32 and junior Sofia Monroe 32nd at 22:33.

 

Seattle Pacific junior Jennifer Pixler won the individual national championship by a 28-second margin over Shippensburg freshman Neely Spence to lead her team to a fourth-place finish.

 

Spence’s effort led Shippensburg to a sixth-place team finish.

 

Grand Valley’s runner-up team effort was paced by a 17th-place finish by sophomore Megan Maceratini, who had a 22:15 time. Sophomore teammate Katherine McCarthy placed 25th at 22:24, while senior Kelly Gibbons was 29th at 22:30, junior Lynsey Ardingo 31st at 22:32 and senior Sarah Kulcycki 34th at 22:37.

 

Sophomore Julianne Payton placed 11th in the individual competition to lead Western State to a third-place finish in the women’s team competition. Senior teammate Lisa Thomas finished 42nd with a 22:51 time.

 

Seattle Pacific placed fourth in the women’s team standings, followed by Augustana of South Dakota, Shippensburg, Chico State, Minnesota-Duluth, Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington.