This is the ninth straight time the women’s team has qualified for nationals and the fourth time overall the men’s team has qualified. The top three teams in each region earn a spot at the national championships.

The women’s team was led by 2021 Frewsburg graduate Acacia Barber (21:56.5) and Rachel Horner-Richardson (21:57.3), who finished in third and fourth place, respectively. The team had a total time of 1:52.26 with an average time of 22:29.

The Redhawks finished just behind Southern Connecticut State who won with 58 points. Roberts totaled 70 points.

Kylee Odell, a 2020 Panama graduate, was a top-10 finisher crossing the line in 22:21.5 for ninth place. Zoe Perkins (23:00.2) and Lydia Roselund (23:11.0) closed out the top five finishers for the Redhawks.

From left, are: Kylee Odell, Acacia Barber and Micah Barber, all runners on the Roberts Wesleyan cross country team. Submitted photo

The men’s team scored 60 points just behind Southern Conn. St. with 32 points. Roberts had a total team time of 2:28.12 and average time of 31:38.

Owen White took third place with a time of 30:54.2 followed closely by fourth-place finisher Blake Kasper with a time of 31:00.8. Jackson Doran crossed the line in sixth place posting a time of 31:18.9. The final two point scorers for Roberts were Teddy Pintabona in 26th place with a time of 32:28.2 and Zachary Hall in 27th with a time of 32:30.4.

Roberts will head to Joplin, Mo. on Saturday,. Nov. 18 for the final race of the season at the DII National Championships.

Two weeks ago, with less than 10 minutes remaining before the start of the East Coast Conference women’s cross country championship race, Andrew Dorr wasn’t sure what kind of day his team was going to have.

A little more than a half-hour later Dorr, the director of track and field and cross country at Roberts Wesleyan University, was smiling as the Redhawks overcame illness and adversity to earn their ninth consecutive ECC championship.

Barber won the 5K race in 18:30.4 as the host Redhawks were again victorious on the Matt St. James Cross Country Trails. Horner-Richardson placed second in 18:41.6 and Odell placed third in 18:49.7 as Roberts swept the top three spots.

Determined efforts by Perkins, who placed ninth in 19:11.1 and Roselund, who was 14th in 19:46.7, allowed the Redhawks to hold off a strong push from Daemen. The Redhawks finished with 29 points, while Daemen had 49. D’Youville was third with 61.

“Acacia has been quietly and steadily making progress this fall and it was great to see her win today,” Dorr said. “Our fourth and fifth runners ran fast and our top three got the job done.”

Barber, who finished third last year, trimmed 39 seconds off her time in 2022.

“I definitely started out consistent and then I kicked it in with halfway to go,” Barber said. “It was a calm, steady progression to the race.”

Barber earned ECC Runner of the Year and Horner-Richardson and Odell were named first-team All-ECC. Perkins and Roselund secured spots on All-ECC second-team. Dorr was named Coach of the Year for the 11th straight season.

Senior Julianna Lewis placed 18th (20:32.22), sophomore Gianna Tribotte finished 20th (20:40.6) and senior Emma Rath crossed the line 23rd for Roberts (21:06.8).

“Our team time today was a minute faster than last year and our team time was a minute faster than earlier this year,” Dorr said. “I am encouraged by the progress that we have made throughout the year and we still have some goals to pursue.”