Toledo, Ohio - Junior Athena Welsh was voted Division I Female Runner of the Year, freshman Claire Steigerwald was voted Division I Freshman Female Runner of the Year, and head coach Linh Nguyen was voted Division I Women's Coach of the Year by the Ohio collegiate cross country coaches, it was announced today. 

"We had a strong cross country season in the fall and it's nice that the coaches in Ohio recognized that fact," said Nguyen. "The team worked hard and really put together a season that they can be proud of, and these awards just reinforce it." 

Welsh captured first place in three regular-season competitions. The Louisville, Ohio, native hit her personal best at the Bradley Pink Classic, posting a time of 20:36.2 to secure second. Welsh was one second off her PR at the MAC Championship (20:37.9) where she finished second, missing the title by a heartbreaking three seconds, and earning First-Team All-MAC honors. At the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional meet Welsh took 17th place with an NCAA qualifying time of 20:55.2. She then competed in the NCAA Cross County Championships, finishing 85th with a time of 20:59.1. 

Steigerwald had a breakout season, landing second (14:22.8) in the Toledo Opener and fourth (17:47.0) in the Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener. The Gahanna, Ohio, native was the first freshman to cross the finish line at the MAC Championships, posting a PR of 21:43.4 to finish 19th and earn Freshman of the Year honors from the MAC. In the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional, Steigerwald clocked a time of 22:11.7 to take 80th place.

Head coach Linh Nguyen coached the Rockets to three first-place finishes on the season. The Rockets had five top-five regular team finishes. In the post-season the Rockets landed second in the MAC Championships and ninth in the NCAA Regionals. Each week the Rockets consistently placed runners in the top five at their meets. 

2018 All-Ohio Women's Cross Country Honorees

Division I
DI Female Runner of the Year - Athena Welsh - Toledo
DI Male Runner of the Year  - Josh Park - Ohio
DI Freshman Female Runner of the Year - Claire Steigerwald - Toledo
DI Freshman Male Runner of the Year - Alex Stamper - Kent State
DI Women's Coach of the Year - Linh Nguyen - Toledo
DI Men's Coach - Lee Labadie - Akron 

Division II  
DII Female Runner of the Year - Brianna Coy - Walsh
DII Male Runner of the Year - Jacob Kernell - Walsh
DII Freshman Female Runner of the Year – Alayna Ackley - Cedarville
DII Freshman Male Runner of the Year - Raymondd Korir - Central State
DII Women's Coach of the Year -  Rob Mizicko - Walsh 
DII Men's Coach of the Year - Rob Mizicko - Walsh 

Division III
DIII Female Runner of the Year - Claire Lamb - Otterbein
DIII Male Runner of the Year - Ian McVey - Ohio Northern
DIII Freshman Female Runner of the Year - Cameron Bujaucius  - John Carroll
DIII Freshman Male Runner of the Year - Ian Pierson - John Carroll
DIII Women's Coach of the Year - Dara Ford - Otterbein 
DIII Men's Coach of the Year - Dara Ford - Otterbein