BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The 2022-23 academic year marked the 75th anniversary of the Ohio Valley Conference, which began in 1948 and currently ranks as the eighth-oldest Division I Conference.
As part of the celebration of the storied accomplishments of the League, a Committee working in conjunction with current and former schools, captured the “best-of-the-best” in each sport and celebrate the top athletes in league history with 75th Anniversary Teams across all OVC sports. A similar listing was compiled during the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the league.
The Skyhawks had one honoree on the 75th Anniversary Teams with legendary distance runner Ann Asipan joining some of the league’s elite.
Congratulations to @UTM_XC_TF standout Ann Asipan (2015-16) on making the OVC 75th Anniversary Team for Women’s Cross Country!
🏆 Back-to-Back OVC Individual Champion
🥇 2x All-Region performer
⏱️ 17:03.8 – 5k school record
🏃♀️ Owns 6 of 8 top times in UTM history#MartinMade |… pic.twitter.com/pyjqnc502y
— UT Martin Athletics (@UTMSports) June 12, 2023
Ann Asipan (2015-16)
Asipan is the most decorated Skyhawk cross country athlete in program history after a stellar career which included the program’s first and back-to-back OVC Athlete of the Championship honors at the 2015 and 2016 OVC Championships. A two-time All-OVC first team recipient, Asipan is the owner of six of the program’s eight fastest 5k times, including a record-setting mark of 17:03.8 at the 2015 OVC Championship. Along with earning a pair of All-Region honors, she paced the Skyhawks in every collegiate meet in which she competed.
Below is a listing of the top men’s and women’s cross country student-athletes and coaches in OVC history.
Men’s Cross Country
Jason Bialka, Eastern Illinois (1998-2001)
Soufiane Bouchikhi, Eastern Kentucky (2010-13)
Grant Colehour, Eastern Kentucky (1965-69)
Neil Cusack, East Tennessee (1971-74)
Larry Cuzzort, Western Kentucky (1977-80)
Ron Duncan, Morehead State (2006-09)
Ray Flynn, East Tennessee (1975-79)
Dustin Hatfield, Eastern Illinois (2018-22)
Jacob Korir, Eastern Kentucky (2004-07)
Jim Krejci, Murray State (1970-71)
Eddie Leddy, East Tennessee ( 1971-74)
Ben Naeger, Belmont (2019-21)
John Nganga, Eastern Kentucky (1994-97)
Kyle O’Brien, Eastern Illinois (2001-03)
Hector Ortiz, Western Kentucky (1968-71)
Chris Ridler, Western Kentucky (1973-76)
Nick Rose, Western Kentucky (1972-76)
Erick Rotich, Eastern Kentucky (2015-18)
Ken Silvious, Eastern Kentucky (1967-71)
Sam Torres, Murray State (1973-74)
Women’s Cross Country
Ann Asipan, UT Martin (2015-16)
Lauren Blankenship, Samford (2003-07)
Amy Clements, Eastern Kentucky (1991-95)
Ann Eason, Eastern Kentucky (2011-14)
Nina Funderburk, Murray State (1985-88)
Paula Gaston, Eastern Kentucky (1976-80)
Charlotte Imer, Eastern Kentucky (2015-17)
Jamie King, Eastern Kentucky (1994-98)
Olivia Klaus, Eastern Illinois (2009-12)
Lydia Kosgei, Eastern Kentucky (2009-12)
Allison Kotouch, Eastern Kentucky (1985-88)
Lisa Malloy, Eastern Kentucky (1986-90)
Katherine Pagano, Eastern Kentucky (2007-10)
Stephanie Place, Tennessee Tech (2005-09
Pam Raglin, Eastern Kentucky ( 1984-87)
Sue Schaeffer, Eastern Kentucky (1977-81)
Christine Snow, Eastern Kentucky (1984-87)
Hannah Wittman, Belmont (2012-15)
Sunshine Wilson, Eastern Kentucky (1992-96)
Coaches of Note
Rick Erdmann, Eastern Kentucky
Erin Howarth, Eastern Illinois
John McInerney, Eastern Illinois
Margaret Simmons, Murray State
