LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of the Cumberlands captured the 2009 Mid-South Conference Championships, while Georgetown College's Britney Chesser earned MSC Runner of the Year honors today at E.P. Tom Sawyer Park.

The Patriots used four top 10 finishes to score 42 points to beat second place University of Rio Grande (47 points) by five points. Campbellsville University finished third with 62 points while Lindsey Wilson College ended in fourth with 83 points.

Georgetown (109), Pikeville College (177) and St. Catharine College (215) rounds out the seven-team field.

With the win, Cumberlands earns the Mid-South Conference's automatic bid to the 30th Women's NAIA Cross Country National Championships in Vancouver, Wash.

Chesser the five-time MSC Runner of the Week captured the individual championship earning runner of the year honors. The Louisville senior ran the 5,000 meter course in 18 minutes and 58 seconds.

Cumberlands Darcy Mascotti finished second with a time of 19:53.

For their finishes, Chesser and Mascotti earn All Mid-South Conference honors reserved for the top-10 finishers at the MSC Championships.

Joining Chesser and Mascotti on the all-conference team are Campbellsville's Amy Etherington and Tawny Vilchis, Cumberlands' Lauren Kachel, Lauren Louvie and Elyse Velte, Rio Grande's Stacey Arnett Cassie Mattia and Kayla Renner.

Chesser leads the group of five individuals not on the winning team to advance to nationals. Renner, Arnett, Etherington and Vilchis also qualify.

Following today's race at the cross country banquet, 24 harriers were recognized as Academic All Mid-South Conference. The distinction is reserved for student-athletes with a sophomore or higher class ranking and a 3.25 and above grade point average.

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