Senior Mark Berton named OAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for the second time this season

By Zaji Lieberman

ADA — Senior Mark Berton has been named OAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for the Week of Sept. 9-15.

This is his second time receiving the award this season, as he was also honored the week of Aug. 26-Sept. 2.

Berton finished in the top-10 to lead the Ohio Northern men's cross country team (24-2 overall) at the Vanderbilt Classic on Saturday.

Berton led the Polar Bears across the finish line with a fourth place finish, navigating the 8,000-meter course in 26:06.08. Northern finished second of 13 teams in the non-Division I meet with 48 points.

Had the meet been scored with all of the Division I and non-Division I schools together, ONU would have defeated Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Marshall, Western Kentucky and five other Division I schools.

Ohio Northern will return to competition on October 4, when it takes part in the All-Ohio Championships at Cedarville.