ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's cross country team swept the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) honors and seven runners were selected to the all-conference team after claiming the programs fourth straight championship last Saturday.
Devin Beggs (Franklin, PA/Franklin) garnered Runner of the Year honors, while Dylan Buffington (Brookville, PA/Brookville) was named the Newcomer of the Year. Head Coach Greg Cooper was selected as Coach of the Year for the fifth time in the last eight years.
Beggs was the Lions top runner in four out of seven races, and the number two runner in the other three. He was not beaten by a conference opponent other than teammates Jake DeWeese (Freedom, PA/Freedom Area) and Buffington all season. He was also undefeated on the conference course, and lowered his time from the beginning of the season by 1:36.
Buffington was Behrend's top freshman on the season. He finished as the No. 1 runner in two races, and never finished out of the Top Five. Buffington also finished as the top freshman runner in five of seven races and improved his time on the conference course by 1:30.
An astounding seven runners were named to the All-Conference team for finishing in the Top 15 at the AMCC meet, leading Behrend to a perfect score of 15.
After Beggs, Jake Parsons (Titusville, PA/Maplewood), DeWeese, Buffington and Josh Natalie (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy-Strong Vincent) rounded out the Top Five at the championship meet. Alan Yocca (Plum, PA/Plum) and Ian Griffith (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) also earned all-conference honors with eighth and 12th place finishes.
The Penn State Berhend women's cross country team had two runners selected to the All-Conference squad. Katie Manno (Erie, PA/McDowell) finished second at the AMCC meet and Abby Gilmore (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) placed 14th to earn their spots on the All-Conference team.
The Lions will run next at the NCAA Regionals hosted by Dickinson on Saturday November 15th at 11 a.m.
