Women's Cross Country | 11/20/2023 2:54:35 PM
Houghton University sophomore Noelle Linenfelser was named Runner of the Year and first-year Meghan Moyer of Empire 8 Champion Nazareth University earned Rookie of the Year accolades, as the Empire 8 announced its 2023 Women’s Cross Country award winners on Monday, Nov. 20. The individual awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.
The Nazareth coaching staff, led by head coach Mike Heymann was named E8 Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time.
Linenfelser, a native of Grand Island, NY, enjoyed a tremendous sophomore season for the Highlanders in 2023. The 2022 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, Linenfelser excelled in 2023, winning the Empire 8 Championship on Oct. 28 in a league championship record time of 21:38.8 over 6,000-meters. In addition, she was also the top finisher among all Empire 8 runners at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship hosted by Houghton on Nov. 11, placing 21st overall, garnering All-Region honors. Linenfelser recorded three top-10 finishes during the season and was a four-time Empire 8 Runner of the Week in 2023.
Linenfelser is the second straight Houghton student-athlete to earn E8 Runner of the Year honors, joining Amanda Burrichter who was honored last season.
Moyer, a native of Liverpool, NY, was the top individual finisher among first-year student-athletes at the 2023 Empire 8 Championship, finishing 10th overall to earn All-E8 second team accolades in a time of 22:28.8 over the 6,000-meter distance on Oct. 28. That was her season-best time over that distance. Moyer recorded three different top-15 finishes during the season and earned a top-60 finish at the Niagara Region Championship.
Moyer is the the third Empire 8 Rookie of the Year from Nazareth. She joins Hayley Cronin (2018) and Kimberly Lovett (2014).
The Nazareth coaching staff, led by head coach Mike Heymann, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country James Goss and assistant coach Patrick Healy was honored as the 2023 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. Heymann led Nazareth to its first Empire 8 Championship in program history on Oct. 28. In addition, he mentored eight all-league selections, including All-E8 first team selections Lilianna Hanning, Ella Impaglia and Emily Weaver in addition to Moyer, the Rookie of the Year. Hanning and Impaglia also earned NCAA All-Region honors.
The Empire 8 first, second and third team all-conference selections were determined at the championship meet on Oct. 28 at Parkview Fairways in Victor, NY, hosted by Nazareth.
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2023 Women's Cross Country Sportswoman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen.
2023 Empire 8 Women’s Cross Country Award Winners
Runner of the Year: Noelle Linenfelser, So., Houghton
Rookie of the Year: Meghan Moyer, Fr., Nazareth
Coaching Staff of the Year: Nazareth, led by head coach Mike Heymann
2023 Empire 8 Women’s Cross Country All-Conference Selections
Empire 8 First Team
Noelle Linenfelser, So., Houghton
Lilianna Hanning, Sr., Nazareth
Ella Impaglia, So., Nazareth
Emily Weaver, Gr., Nazareth
Elizabeth Ingellis, Jr., Russell Sage
Riley Jameson, Jr., St. John Fisher
Lauren DeMichele, Sr., St. John Fisher
Empire 8 Second Team
Paige Ackley, Sr., Nazareth
Meghan Moyer, Fr., Nazareth
Mackenzie Feeney, Sr., Russell Sage
Brigid McGee, Sr., St. John Fisher
Caitlin Voloshen, So., St. John Fisher
Laura Witt, Sr., St. John Fisher
Jade Dening, Jr., Utica
Empire 8 Third Team
Aria Larson, Fr., Houghton
Ava Baker, Fr., Nazareth
Morgan Pospiech, Fr., Nazareth
Bailey Visingard, Fr., Nazareth
Olivia Grinnell, So., St. John Fisher
Allison List, So., St. John Fisher
Maria Stuhlman, Fr., Utica
Empire 8 Sportswoman of the Year
Natalya Ryckman, Jr., Alfred
Taylor Stalker, Fr., Hartwick
Delaney Grant, Fr., Houghton
Josie Kelley, Sr., Keuka
Kennedy Doran, Fr., Nazareth
Mackenzie Feeney, Sr., Russell Sage
Sabrina Antonini, Jr., St. John Fisher
Meghan Sonnacchio, Jr., Utica
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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