The Army West Point men's cross country team was honored with seven postseason awards after capturing the Patriot League Championship on Saturday in Lewisburg, Pa. Following an 11th-place finish at the meet, plebe Marshall Beatty was named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. The award is given to the top finishing freshman at the meet. "I think Marshall ran a very determined, very patient and very competitive race and it was a great race for him," head coach Mike Smith said. "For him to win an award like rookie of the year is significant because, not only was he the first freshman to cross the finish line, but even more so because he attends an institution where it is very difficult to be a freshman."
The Missoula, Mont., native earned two Patriot League Rookie of the Week awards this season, the first after his first-place showing in the season-opening Maine Dual and the second following a strong sixth-place finish at Navy. "He won rookie of the week in October when he had only been here since the middle of August," Smith said. "He has made a significant adjustment to life here at the academy and is still able to perform at a very high level. That speaks to who he is. He is a very determined, very squared-away and very competitive kid with ability and we saw that out there on Saturday in some of the most difficult conditions you can imagine." Beatty has been praised by his coaches for his strong work ethic throughout his rookie campaign. Read More