AKRON, Ohio-The Marshall men and women’s cross country teams concluded their 2003 season, Saturday at the MAC Championships. The women finished 12th and the men finished 11th to conclude the cross country seasons.

Senior Varinka Barbini (Hamburg, NJ) led the way for the Thundering Herd finishing in 46th place with a time of 18:56. Junior Stephanie Eastman (Spencer, W.Va.) and senior Shelby Pride (Bethel, Ohio) and were also among the top finishers for the Herd women placing 53rd and 65th.

Junior Craig Swisher (Bidwell, Ohio) led the way for the men finishing 53rd with a time of 26:07. Other placers for the Herd were junior Mike Jones (Parkersburg, W.Va.),80, senior Eric Anderson (Huntington, W.Va.), 85, Sophomore Brad Kohler (Elkview, W.Va.), junior Ryan Slone (Chesapeake, Ohio), 92, and freshman William Watson and Mathew Lucas rounded out the Marshall finishers.

Ball State University clinched the Mid-American Conference Championship for the women, knocking off the two time defending champions University of Toledo. Andrea Kremer of Miami University won the individual title with a time of 17:16. Central Michigan walked away with the men’s team championship for the second consecutive season, while Eastern Michigan’s Gavin Thompson won the men’s individual championship for the second straight year with a time of 23:39.

For further information visit www.herdzone.com