OBU Athletics
Jordan Beech, Assistant Director for Athletic Communications
EDMOND – Oklahoma Baptist made it clear why they were the favorites to repeat as Great American Conference Champions, dominating the field and placing all five scoring runners inside the top seven to claim their second straight GAC crown.
Oklahoma Baptist, led by Runner of the Year Kaylee Large Crowson, scored 21 points, one off their score from last year. The next closest team, Harding, finished 44 points behind the Lady Bison.
“It was a savvy, smart race by our team again today,” said Coach of the Year Matt Kennedy. “It helps when we have the elite talent that we do. Everyone did their job and executed the race strategy the way we needed to.”
Crowson completed the 5,000-meter course in 18:14.8 to finish first overall. She was followed soon after by Sydney Lawrence in second place with a time of 18:17.2. Both outstripped third place by at least 8.6 seconds.
Allison Derry was next across the line for OBU in fifth place in a time of 18:41.8, while Emily Sechrist clocked in with a time 18:49.0 to finish in sixth. Emma Downing was OBU’s final scorer, placing seventh in a time of 18:51.4, and was also named the GAC’s Freshman of the Year.
Displacers for OBU were Berkley Price and Tesa Potter, who crossed the line in 18:56.6 and 18:57.2 to finish eighth and ninth, respectively.
Crowson, Lawrence, Derry, Sechrist, Downing, Price and Potter all claimed First Team All-GAC status by virtue of finishing in the top 10.
Alexzandria Jaimz picked up Second Team All-GAC honors after turning in a time of 19:12.9 to finish 14th overall.
Also running for OBU were: Michaela Phipps (20:10.4, 28th), Caitlin Mertz (20:59.8, 47th), Allie Morton (21:10.1, 54th), Mya Hudgins (21:18.6, 57th), Ashley Scrivner (21:50.3, 66th), Abby McSheffrey (22:19.9, 75th) and Ashley Ellis (23:11.9, 91st).
Prior to the meet, Sechrist was announced as one of six GAC Elite Scholar Athlete Award recipients. Lawrence received the GAC’s Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award as well.