Lynchburg Sweeps Cross Country Titles

Flynn Wins Third Crown, Pernisi Triumphant

SALEM, Va. --- Lynchburg College took home four titles amongst the two races at the 2009 ODAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Mowles Spring Park in Salem.  The Hornets won both team titles as well as each individual crown.  Junior Jennie Pernisi topped the women's ranks, while senior Ricky Flynn brought home his third-consecutive league title in the men's event.  Pernisi finished the women's six-kilometer course in 24:06.91.  Flynn completed the eight-kilometer men's track in 26:45.38.

The Top-14 finishers for both the men and women earn All-ODAC honors.  The first seven receive All-ODAC First Team accolades, while the second seven garner All-ODAC Second Team laurels.

The Lynchburg men's squad finished with 33 points.  Virginia Wesleyan College placed second with 48 points, followed by Washington and Lee University (81), Bridgewater College (99), Roanoke College (148), Guilford College (171), Eastern Mennonite University (221), Emory & Henry College (231), Hampden-Sydney College (233) and Randolph College (294).  Aside from Flynn's winning time, Nolan Compton (28:03.65, 5th), Lawrence Minor (28:08.33, 7th), Ryan Van Alstine (28:13.53, 9th), and Brandon Demers (28:24.73, 11th) all placed in the Top-14 for the Hornets.  The Marlins were paced by Sean Whitson's third-place finish with a time of 27:42.68.  Seth Cunningham (28:07.46, 6th), Nick Lauter (28:12.30, 8th) and David Kidd (28:33.43, 13th) also all scored for the Marlins. 

Other notable men's individual finishers include Eastern Mennonite's Richy Bikko (27:29.55, 2nd), Bridgewater's Jordan White (27:48.32, 4th) and Jake Griffin (28:37.40, 14th) and Washington and Lee's Harrison Tucker (28:17.54, 10th) and Robert Warneford-Thomson (28:30.27, 12th). 

On the women's side, the Hornets placed first with 29 points.  Washington and Lee finished second with 41 points, followed by Roanoke (75), Virginia Wesleyan (101), Bridgewater (139), Eastern Mennonite (168), Guilford (203) and Randolph (214). Lynchburg women recorded five Top-10 finishers, including three first team honors.  Pernisi and her winning time was joined on the All-ODAC squad by teammates Ashely Meyer (24:37.26, 3rd), Molly Galloway (25:04.02, 6th), Aubrey Berry (25:20.66, 9th) and Kiley Trennepohl (25:22.78, 10th). 

Other noteworthy women's times include Washington and Lee's Kat Telfeyan (24:23.96, 2nd), Sarah Keckler (24:54.79, 5th), Lauren Schultz (25:10.62, 7th), Molly Ortiz (25:42.86, 13th) and Dorothy Todd (25:45.10, 14th), Roanoke's Maggie Moore (24:50.35, 4th) and Caroline Casey (25:38.15, 12th), Bridgewater's Molly Smith (25:15.78, 8th) and Virginia Wesleyan's Kelly Fauth (25:26.08, 11th).

Lynchburg's Dr. Jack Toms was tabbed the men's ODAC Coach of the Year for the second-straight year.  Additionally, this is the 66th overall award for Toms between cross country and track and field.  Jesse Baumann garnered the women's ODAC Coach of the Year accolade. This marks the first for Baumann. 

Lynchburg's Nolan Compton was named the ODAC Freshman of the Year, while Washington and Lee's Lauren Schultz collected the honor on the women's side. 

Washington and Lee's Robert Warneford-Thomson was tabbed the men's ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Lynchburg's Ashley Meyer earned the women's laurel. Warneford-Thomson maintains a 3.854 grade-point average as a sophomore.  Currently he is undeclared.  Meyer holds a 3.952 grade-point average as a senior biomedical major. 

See below for the 2009 All-ODAC Men's and Women's Cross Country teams.  For more information, visit the new ODAC on the Internet at www.odaconline.com. 

Complete Men's Results

Complete Women's Results

ODAC Men's Championship - 8K Race
1. Lynchburg - 33 pts.
2. Virginia Wesleyan - 48 pts.
3. Washington and Lee - 81 pts.
4. Bridgewater - 99 pts.
5. Roanoke - 148 pts.
6. Guilford - 171 pts.
7. Eastern Mennonite - 221 pts.
8. Emory & Henry - 231 pts.
9. Hampden-Sydney - 233 pts.
10. Randolph - 294 pts.

ODAC Women's Championship - 6K Race
1. Lynchburg - 29 pts.
2. Washington and Lee - 41 pts.
3. Roanoke - 75 pts.
4. Virginia Wesleyan - 101 pts.
5. Bridgewater - 139 pts.
6. Eastern Mennonite - 168 pts.
7. Guilford - 203 pts.
8. Randolph - 214 pts.
9. Emory & Henry - No Team Score