AMCC MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

The AMCC is embarking on its 20th anniversary during the 2016-17 academic year. Since 1997 there have been many outstanding teams and individual student-athletes who have risen to the top of their sports.  We are honored to recognize and highlight some of those accomplishments throughout this anniversary year.

Over the past 20 years, men's cross country in the AMCC has been like a tale of two decades. The first ten years were dominated by former AMCC member Frosburg State University, who captured nine of the first ten championships. The next ten years have been ruled by Penn State Behrend, who has captured eight of the past nine conference titles. 

Individually, it was Franciscan University's Bill Jones, who was the only cross country runner to be named men's runner of the year four times. In 2008, the freshman runner was the fastest man in the championship field of 71 competitors, covering the 8k course in a time of 27:02. In 2009, Jones took a year off from competing in cross country as he studied abroad in Austria. He was once again the top finisher at the AMCC championship when he returned in 2010. In 2011, Jones was the AMCC individual champion, earning all-american honors at the Great Lakes Regional meet and qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Championship Meet. In 2012, Jones capped his career off with AMCC Runner of the Year honors once again. 

La Roche's Andrew Musinguzi also compiled a stellar career, being named AMCC Runner of the Year three years in a row in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In 2000, Musinguzi won the AMCC cross country championships by nearly a minute, running a 26:50 on the 8K course. He then won his second straight conference title in 2001 and placed 32^nd (24:54) at the NCAA DIII National Cross Country Championship. He was also named a 2001 Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American. In 2002, Musinguzi won his third straight AMCC Championship and placed 40^th (25:52) at the NCAA DIII National Cross Country Championships.

We are proud to honor the complete line-up of AMCC Men's Cross Country Runners of the Year from 1997-2016:

2015 – Bradley Foust, PSA - Foust won the AMCC Championship race by taking the lead after the first mile and then winning by a 19 second margin. Twice AMCC Runner of the Week, he ran under 27 minutes four times this season, twice as many as the closest AMCC competitor. Foust was also a two-time ECAC Rookie of the Week this season. 
2014 – Devin Beggs, BEH - individual champion at the conference meet
2013 – Dennis Lydon, BEH (Co-Runner of the Year) – Top finisher at AMCC championship meet
2013 - Jason Anna, PSA (Co-Runner of the Year) – Runner up at AMCC championship meet, only seconds behind first place. Anna was named AMCC Men's Runner of the Week three times, more than any other individual male runner in the conference that season.
2012 – Bill Jones, FRN – Jones capped his career with a collection of four AMCC Runner of the Year awards, winning individual titles in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
2011 – Bill Jones, FRN – AMCC individual champion, earning All-American honors at the Great Lakes Regional meet and qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Championship Meet
2010 – Bill Jones, FRN – Top finisher at the AMCC championship meet for the second time in three years
2009 – Kevin Gorny, BEH -  AMCC champion, covering the 8K course in 28:58.5.
2008 – Bill Jones, FRN – The freshman runner was the fastest man in the championship field of 71 competitors, covering the 8k course in a time of 27:02.
2007 – Kevin Gorny, BEH – Gorny captured the men's title at the AMCC championship meet after a standout season.
2006 – Curt Ruble, FSU - The 2006 individual championship at the AMCC championship meet qualified for the NCAA Division III  Cross Country Championship with a ninth place finish at the NCAA Mideast Regional. In a time of 26:48, Ruble led the Bobcats to an 18th place team finish, the best among all AMCC competitors.
2005 – Brad Ruffo, BEH - By virtue of his strong performance (12^th place finish) at the NCAA Mideast Regional Ruffo qualified to compete in the NCAA Division III National Championship. He finished 63 out of 211 runners with a time of 26:53 and is the first runner ever from Behrend to compete at the national championships.
2004 – Curt Ruble, FSU – The freshman was the top finisher at the AMCC championship meet, finishing the 8K race in 28:42 and leading his team to a first place finish.
2003 – Ed May, FSU - May was the top finisher at the 2003 AMCC championship meet.  Despite missing two and a half weeks of the season due to injury, May went unbeaten by any AMCC competitors in invitationals throughout the season.
2002 – Andrew Musinguzi, LRC – Won his third straight AMCC Championship. Placed 40^th (25:52) at the NCAA DIII National XC Championships at St. Olaf College Tostrud Athletic Center
2001 – Andrew Musinguzi, LRC – Won his second straight AMCC Championship. Placed 32^nd (24:54) at the NCAA DIII National XC Championship at Highland Sprints Golf Course, Rock Island, IL. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-American.
2000 – Andrew Musinguzi, LRC – Won the AMCC Cross Country Championships by nearly a minute, running a 26:50 on the 8K Course.
1999 – Mike Taye, FSU - Michael Taye was a three-time NCAA National Champion and 11-time All-American for the Frostburg State cross country and track & field programs. Taye is one of Frostburg's most highly decorated student-athletes as he is just one of five All-Americans for the men's cross country program.
1998 – Frank Curiel, FSU
1997 – Mike Taye, FSU