ANNVILLE, Pa. - Gabby Nye won the individual championship and the Widener women's cross country team captured its first Middle Atlantic Conference championship in program history on Saturday at the 2022 MAC Championships at Union Canal Tunnel Park.

"It feels great to be a part of the program's first team and Individual championship," said Widener head coach Logan Stroman, who was named the Coach of the Year for the MAC as well. "This team has worked hard over the last few years to get to this moment. Gabby has achieved so much in her short career so far. Assistant coach Michael Ambrulavage has gotten our distance team to new heights and I couldn't be more proud of what he has accomplished for our team."

Coming off a second-place finish in last year's meet, the Pride won their first conference title in their 42-year history after totaling 40 points in this year's meet to beat out defending champion Misericordia, which had 101 points. 

The Pride had their five runners place in the top 20 in the meet, including three in the top five. 

Nye led the way by crossing the finish line first in a time of 22:30.6 in the 6k race to become Widener's first individual champion in program history. The sophomore runner also was named the MAC Runner of the Year and selected to the All-MAC First Team for the second consecutive season after placing fourth in last year's meet.

Following anger were Carly Gable and Katelyn Bernotas, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Gable came across the line in 22:56.7, while Bernotas followed in 22:57.4. Both runners made the All-MAC First Team for their efforts.

Emily Cooney and Jaden Sweely rounded out the scoring for the Pride, as they placed in 14^th  and 16^th, respectively. Cooney ran a time of 23:38.1, while Sweely posted a 23:39.3 in the race. Cooney and Sweely garnered All-MAC Second-Team honors for their efforts.

"It's super exciting to see all the hard work that our team has been putting in be realized in such an incredible accomplishment," Nye said. "It's definitely one for the history books of our team and I'm honored to be a part of that history. Our season isn't over yet though, so I'm excited to see what the rest of the season will hold for myself and our team."

Widener will be looking to build off this success on Saturday, Nov. 2 when it competes in the NCAA Metro Regional Championship.
 
2022 MAC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY AWARDS
Team Champion: Widener Pride
Runner of the Year / Individual Champion: Gabby Nye, Widener
Rookie of the Year: Coyla Bartholomew, Lebanon Valley
Coach of the Year: Logan Stroman, Widener

All-MAC First Team
1. Gabby Nye, Widener
2. Isabelle Pardew, Stevenson
3. Cera Gaston, Alvernia
4. Carly Gable, Widener
5. Katelyn Bernotas, Widener
6. Amelia Smith, DeSales
7. Sarah Skane, York
8. Alexa Thompson, Misericordia
9. Sarah Devries, Misericordia
10. Micah Gordley, Arcadia

All-MAC Second Team
11. Katelyn Schoener, Alvernia
12. Lauren Bunke, Lebanon Valley
13. Zoe Tomko, King's
14. Emily Cooney, Widener
15. Haley Estus, DeSales
16. Jaden Steely, Widener
17. Coyla Bartholomew, Lebanon Valley
18. Allison Nicinski, DeSales
19. Grace Gallagher, Misericordia
20. Hailey Shreffler, Eastern
 
All-MAC Third Team
21. Rachel Pinho, Stevens
22. Katryn Yocum, Lycoming
23. Grace Curnow, Arcadia
24. Maryam Al Naseri, Stevenson
25. Sophie DeMichiel, Arcadia
26. Aylene Hernandez, Hood
27. Katie Anthony, Messiah
28. Ali Schutte, Messiah
29. Autumn Garges, Lebanon Valley
30. Brianna Wagner, Misericordia