TOWSON, Md.- At the conclusion of the Landmark Conference Cross Country Championships, the coaches voted to select the Performer, Rookie and Coaching Staff of the year for both the men and women. The conference also awarded All-Landmark honors based on the student-athletes' finish. Juniata senior Conor Dimond (Summerhill, Pa./Forest Hills) was named the Performer of the Year as he crossed the line ahead of the 85-runner field with a winning time of 25:53.08, a personal best.
Dimond's time set a new school record by two seconds. The previous mark was held by Nate Alter in 2013 at the Lock Haven Invitational. By earning individual medalist honors, Dimond becomes the first Eagle to earn Landmark Male Performer of the Year recognition.
Juniata had four of the top-14 runners as the Eagles crossed the finish line in first, third, ninth, and 13th place. All four runners set personal best times. Juniata scored 47 points, just 16 shy of first place Elizabethtown College. Nick Simpson (Silver Spring, Md./Albert Einstein) finished third with a time of 26:16.18 to earn a spot on the first team while freshman Peter D'Amico (Hummelstown, Pa./Hershey) placed ninth overall, marking 26:43.99 as his time to be named second team all-conference. Freshman Desmond O'Donovan (Philadelphia, Pa./Science Leadership Academy) just missed the top ten by ten seconds, as he finished in 13th in 27:00.52. O'Donovan joins D'Amico on the second team.
Head coach Jon Cutright was named the Men's Coach of the Year. Cutright is in his 18th season as the head of the men's cross country program. He earned Coach of the Year honors for the women in 2007 as they claimed the conference title. This is the fifth second place result for his men's team after 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2013.
