Austin Peay Lady Govs Cross Country places seventh at Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championship

APSU Sports: Austin Peay Women’s Cross Country

Oxford, AL – Junior Xiamar Richards picked up her second consecutive all-conference and five runners set lifetime personal bests for Austin Peay State University women’s cross country team at Saturday’s Ohio Valley Conference Cross Country Championship, hosted by Jacksonville State at the Oxford Lake and Recreation Center.

The Lady Govs placed seventh for the second year in a row, made more impressive by the addition of two teams to this season’s field. Defending champion Eastern Kentucky won its sixth title in seven years with 44 points, ahead of OVC newcomer Belmont (61 points), defending champion Eastern Illinois (64 points) and Murray State (94 points). The Lady Govs (211 points) finished ahead of host Jacksonville State (233 points), among others.

Richards was the story for Austin Peay. The Clarksville native placed 10th for the second year in a row, posting a personal-best and the second-fastest mark in Lady Govs history with a 17:49.01 5K run. She becomes the first Lady Gov since Bertha Castillo (2007-09) to earn back-to-back All-OVC honors.

“Xiamar ran great again,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “She’s become one of the best we’ve had at Austin Peay.”

In her final OVC Championship run, senior Chantelle Grey earned a top-30, finishing 30th with an 18:37.03 mark. Junior Kendra Kirksey put together a top-40, with a 33rd-place, 18:43.57 run.

Junior Miranda Weed (20:32.39, 73rd) and senior Alyssa Molnar (20:47.61, 77th) rounded out the scoring for the Lady Govs. Freshman Alexis Eldrige (21:23.90, 83rd) also competed for Austin Peay.

“I’m very proud of how well the women ran,” Molnar said. “Our conference is even deeper this year, and it shows; we had five personal-bests and finished right where we were last season.”