Wheeling, W. Va. – On Saturday, the best Cross Country runners form across the Mountain East Conference (MEC) gathered at Oglebay Park for the 2023 MEC Women's Cross Country Championships. The Wheeling University Women's Cross Country team was among the teams in attendance as they took home eighth place with 199 team points. The young team put their best effort on the track with their top runner finishing with her highest career individual placement at a conference championship event.
The leading runner for the Cardinals was sophomore
Gabby Baiano, who led the Cardinals for the second race in a row. After finishing 30th overall a year ago, she came back strong in her second conference championship event. She placed 28th overall with a time of 26:25.71 and was the only Cardinal to place in the event's top 30. It was over a full minute improvement for the sophomore, and a two position improvement from her first Oglebay run as she moved on through year two. With the NCAA Regional championship race coming in two weeks, the sophomore looks to use this performance to propel her as she moves on to the regional stage.
Behind her, the Cardinals had two runners finish in the top 40 of the race, including another PR placing at a championship event. The second highest finisher for the Cardinals was junior
Sophia Tomana, who finished 31st in the field. It was also her highest finish at a championship event as she ran a 27:3.77 on the course. Three spots behind her was sophomore
Sydney Hambel, who placed 34th with a time of 27:45.08. the final three runners for the Cardinals were Susan Trammel, Keala McCurry and
Trinity Ortiz. Trammel would finish 62nd overall with a time of 30:37.09, McCurry took 66th (31:11.80), and
Trinity Ortiz took 74th (36:38.21). McCurry and Ortiz competed in their first ever Cross country championship events, while Trammel ran for the second time.
The Wheeling University Women's Cross Country team returns to action on Saturday, November 4th, when they run at the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Championships.
