EOU’s Welch named West Region’s Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year
By Joe Hathaway on Friday, November 10th, 2023 in Featured Stories More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from EOU) EOU Cross Country head coach, Ben Welch, has been named the 2023 West Region Coach of the Year for the men’s division by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). This is the first time Welch has won the award since its creation in 2016.
“The region award is a testament to how consistently good this group of guys have been this fall,” Welch said. “I am grateful for their hard work and consistency and to the other coaches in the West Region for recognizing that and all the efforts that have gone into this season.”
Welch, in his 33 rd year at the helm of Mountaineer Cross Country, led Eastern to their 13 th CCC title this season. This year’s conference championship was the first since 2007 and puts EOU even with Southern Oregon University to lead the conference with 13 titles each.
With a team championship came an impressive six All-Conference performers. Welch coached the following to the award for the 2023 season: Justin Ash, Cristian Mendoza, Hunter Nichols, Thomas Ogden, Winston Telford, and Jonathan Wind.
Along with a CCC championship, EOU also won the 48 th annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational this year with 77 points. The victory was a major milestone marking the first time the Mountaineers had ever won the invitational in 48 tries.
Welch and the Mountaineers now shift their sights to the 68 th Annual NAIA National Championship on November 17. EOU will contend for a national title in Vancouver, Washington with the men’s 8k kicking off at 11:30 a.m.
