Cornett, Ward Honored as MEC Runners of the Week

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Sophomore Braden Ward of the Concord University men's cross country team and senior Madison Cornett of the Concord University women's cross country team have been selected as the Mountain East Conference Male and Female Runners of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

Ward, a native of Princeton, West Virginia, was the top finisher for the Mountain Lions at the Concord Alumni Invite Friday afternoon at Pipestem State Park. He placed third and was the first collegiate runner to cross the finish line behind former CU standouts Jason Weitzel and Issac Prather who were competing for the Concord Alumni team.

Ward ran 25:56 for the 8,000-meter course and helped the Mountain Lions to a win over MEC rivals Charleston and Davis & Elkins.

For Cornett, a native of Beckley, West Virginia, she covered the 5,000-meter course at Pipestem State Park in 19:53 as she earned the individual win. Cornett was the only athlete to break 20 minutes for the race

Like the CU men, Cornett and the Concord women also picked up a team victory Friday afternoon by besting the field that included Charleston and Davis & Elkins.

Friday was Concord's last regular season meet as it now prepares for the MEC Championship Saturday at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia.