EDMOND, OKLA. – For the sixth time in eight years of Great American Conference Cross Country Championships, the East Central University men's team claimed the championship title. Senior
Larry Filer also became the fifth Tiger student-athlete to earn the individual title and GAC Runner of the Year honors.
The individual honors continued with freshman
Jakaveon Shaw earning GAC Freshman of the Year honors, as the first freshman to finish. ECU head coach
Steve Sawyer finished the run of top honors by picking up his sixth GAC Coach of the Year honor.
| Team Scoring Summary |
|
|
|
|
|
Team |
Score |
Scoring Order |
Total |
Spread |
| 1. |
East Central |
25 |
1-2-3-7-12(23)(28) |
2:09:11 |
1:03.0 |
| 2. |
Oklahoma Baptist |
48 |
4-5-6-15-18(19)(22) |
2:12.01 |
0:58.6 |
| 3. |
Southern Arkansas |
68 |
8-9-10-16-25(31)(33) |
2:12:53 |
0:58.9 |
| 4. |
Harding |
89 |
11-14-17-21-26(30)(36) |
2:14:18 |
0:53.9 |
| 5. |
Southern Nazarene |
146 |
20-24-27-34-41(42)(43) |
2:19:11 |
2:25.0 |
| 6. |
Northwestern |
155 |
13-32-35-37-38(39)(40) |
2:20:20 |
2:26.6 |
| 7. |
Arkansas-Monticello |
211 |
29-44-45-46-47(48)(49) |
2:38.46 |
6:44.0 |
The awards did not stop for performances in the race, as Filer was recognized for his academic accomplishments as well. He was named the GAC Elite Scholar, student-athlete with the highest GPA and at least 70 hours completed that participated in the championship, with his 4.0 GPA.
This year's title is the first for the Tigers since 2016, when they won their third-straight title (2014-16). ECU added two-straight titles in 2011 and 2012, the first two years of the GAC Championship.
Filer joins
Kevin Matthews (2016),
Will Baldwin (2015),
Juan-Joel Pacheco Orozco (2014) and Ezekiel Kissorio as individual GAC Champions for the Tigers.
ECU will now have two weeks off before traveling to Joplin, Mo., to participate in the 2018 NCAA Division II Central Regional, hosted by Missouri Southern State.
