With two runners placing in the top five, Youngstown State University's women's cross country team finished runner-up at the Horizon League Championships Saturday hosted by Cleveland State University. Junior Samantha Hamilton placed third overall while sophomore Anna Pompeo took fifth out of 99 competitors.

Women's Results

Hamilton ran the 5,000m course in a time of 19:06.8; Pompeo followed just 25 seconds behind, finishing in a time of 19:32.7. Both earned First-Team Horizon League honors. Junior Nelly Yegon crossed the line in a time of 19:49, good for a 13th-place finish and Second-Team Horizon League honors. All three women improved their placing from last year's Horizon League meet.

Christina Oles and Brittany Stockmaster finished together to round out YSU's top five. Oles ran a time of 20:15.4 for 18th-place while Stockmaster finished in 19th with a time of 20:23.9. Katie Heney came in at 20:50.7 for 28th-place.

Also running for YSU were Jillian Smith (23:50.8), Ashley Smith (23:56.4), Samantha Atwood (24:17.8) and Jionna Bodrick (24:40.2).

The women's team scored 58 points in the contest to claim second place, the highest finish ever by the YSU women's cross country team since joining the Horizon League. Butler's women won the title with 28 points. In 2009 and 2010, YSU's women's squad finished in fourth place at the league meet.

"Out of the 30+ runner-up trophies, it stands as one of the most cherished championship runner-up trophies," Coach Brian Gorby said. "These young ladies stepped up incredibly."

Men's Results

On the men's side, sophomore Eric Rupe finished the 8,000m race in 20th-place with a time of 27:25.3. Freshmen Austin McLean and Nick Gliha paced one another as McLean placed 27th with a time of 27:59.4 and Gliha placed 31st, crossing the finish line in 28:10.6. Brandon Pasvanis finished in 29:04.5 while Ryan Pavlicko rounded out YSU's top five in a time of 31:35.4. Nick Reese also finished the race in 32:53.6.

The men's team scored 180 points to finish in seventh place overall, maintaining their finish from last year. Butler's men won the title with 25 points.

"The future, like the women's team, is bright with all freshmen and sophomores returning next year," Gorby said.

Both teams will have the week off before heading to Toledo, Ohio for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 12.