RIO GRANDE, Ohio — WVU Tech was the big winner as they swept the 2020 River States Conference Women and Men’s Cross-Country Championships hosted by the University of Rio Grande, Ohio.
On the women’s side, WVU Tech posted a team score of 38 points. Midway University took second place with 84 points and pair of all-conference selections. Both of those teams earned automatic qualification to the NAIA National Championship in the spring as the RSC champion and runner-up.
Asbury senior Bethany Hamilton claimed the RSC individual championship and RSC Runner of the Year with a time of 20 minutes, 7 seconds in the 5,000-meter race. She won by 13 seconds over the rest of the field of 97 total runners. Tech head coach Jeremy Bloom was named the RSC Coach of the Year after the team title.
The top finishers not from NAIA team qualifiers WVU Tech or Midway earned individual qualification to the NAIA National Championship. Alice Lloyd (KY) was led by sophomore Carlee Salyers, (21:24) who finished the race in 15th position. Her solid time just missed qualifying by 13 seconds.
The RSC Champions of Character Team was also named with one individual nominated from each school. Honorees were chosen for best representing the NAIA’s 5-character values on their team: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership, and Sportsmanship.
The 2021 NAIA Cross Country National Championship will be held on April 9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 
In men’s action, Tech scored 57 points, which came out on top of the field of 12 schools.
Point Park University placed runner-up with 81 points Both squads earned automatic qualification to the NAIA National Championship in the spring as the RSC champion and runner-up.
Indiana University Kokomo placed third with 102 points, while Alice Lloyd (Ky.) College was fourth with 111 points. This is the highest team finish ever for the Eagles.
WVU Tech senior Michael Ecker-Randolph won the RSC individual championship and RSC Men’s Cross-Country Runner of the Year for the second year in a row. He completed the 8,000-meter race in 26 minutes, 37 seconds to win by 26 seconds. WVU Tech head coach Jeremy Bloom was voted RSC Coach of the Year.
The top seven individuals were named to the All-RSC First Team, while finishers eight through 14 were placed on the All-RSC Second Team.
The top six finishers not from NAIA team qualifiers WVU Tech or Point Park earned individual bids to nationals. That included Cody Booth (27:03) in second place from Rio Grande, Drake Dickerson (27:24) in third place from Ohio Christian University, Chance Klipstine (27:41) in fifth from Indiana University East, Jacob Kocis (27:58) in sixth from Midway University, and Ryan Morris (28:23) and Anthony Hidalgo (28:24) in 10th and 11th from Alice Lloyd (Ky.).
The RSC Champions of Character Team was also named with one member of each team selected for best representing the NAIA 5-character values: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership, and Sportsmanship.
The NAIA Men’s Cross Country National Championship will be held on April 9, 2021, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Both squads will now prepare for the 2020 NCCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Championship. The event will be hosted by Joplin Sports Authority and Ozark Christian College at Seneca Cross Country Course in Joplin, Missouri on Saturday, November 14th.