Courtesy: Mike Boseak/CMU Athletics Riak Mabil finished runner up for the men's race, with his finish Mabil also earned 1st team All-MAC honors.

ATHENS, Ohio -- The Central Michigan University men’s and women’s cross country teams each turned strong individual efforts into top-five finishes at the Mid-American Conference Championships at Ohio University on Saturday.

Riak Mabil was the highlight of the day for the Chippewas, finishing as the runner up (25:41.7) in the men's race, helping CMU finish third overall with 59 points.

Mabil and Sammy Kiprotich earned first team All-MAC honor and Lutzke earned second team All-MAC honors for the men, and Missy Darling earned All-Conference honors.

“Riak ran well for us, and finishing as the runner-up was a good accomplishment,” head coach Willie Randolph said.

Other top runners for the Chippewas on the men's side included Kiprotich (7th, 26:07.1), Matt Lutzke (11th, 26:20.7), Jacob Korir (16th 26:35.0), Chris Pankow (23rd, 26:49.5), Adam Smith (25th, 26:52.2) and Tecumseh Adams (30th, 27:04.2).

“With some very rainy and sloppy conditions, the day was not ideal, but I think we put out a very good effort,” Randolph said. “A little more depth would have helped us but overall we did well.”

Missy Darling finished as the top runner for the CMU women, taking 7th place (22:35.7) and helping the Chippewas finish fourth as a team with 116 points.

“Missy ran great, and her effort was vital for us as a team,” Randolph said. “With us finishing so close to third, we wouldn't have been that close without her effort."

Other top runners for the Chippewas were Holly Anderson (16th, 23:06.8), Kylee Kubacki (23rd, 23:35.1), Emily Van Wasshenova (33rd, 23:52.3), Raeanne Lohner (37th, 24:04.2), Charnele Lyons (41st, 24:04.9) and Danielle Dakroub (59th, 24:30.2).

Kent State University took home the MAC Championship for the men with a total of 30 points, and Miami University took home the crown for the women with 44 total points.

Award Winners

Men's Cross Country
First-Team All-MAC
Aiman Scullion, Kent State
Riak Mabil, Central Michigan
Scott Hilditch, Kent State
Curtis Vollmar, Eastern Michigan
Tony Jordanek, Kent State
Joe McCoy, Akron
Sammy Kiprotich, Central Michigan

Second-Team All-MAC
Michael Heller, Kent State
James Hughes, Eastern Michigan
Mathew Lutzke, Central Michigan
Michael Perry, Miami
Joe Purpura, Kent State
Dennis Pollow, Buffalo
R.P. White, Eastern Michigan

Men's Coach of the Year: Mark Crogha, Kent State
 
Women's Cross Country
First-Team All-MAC
Ari Fisher, Toledo
Alexandrea Lizarribar, Kent State
Amanda Mirochna, Miami
Alison Bishel, Ball State
Laura Neufarth, Miami
Courtney Calka, Eastern Michigan
Melissa Darling, Central Michigan

Second-Team All-MAC
Renata  Volf, Toledo
Devyn Ramsay, Toledo
Larisa Arcip, Akron
Kelsey McHugh, Miami
Rachel Patterson, Miami
Katie Lenahan, Miami
Maggie Bingham, Miami

Women's Coach of the Year: Kelly Phillips, Miami