UC Runner Mathew Meli of Kenya Wins MEC Championship, named ‘Runner of the Year’

BETHANY, W.Va. – With the day’s best time of 24:21.2, second-year runner Mathew Meli, originally from Eldoret, Kenya, led the University of Charleston to victory in Saturday’s MEC Men’s Cross Country Championship. Additionally, Meli was named 2026 MEC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year, and Freshman of the Year.

Including Meli, the UC Golden Eagles placed three runners in the top five and claimed the team title with 21 points. Freshman Kelvin Kipchumba and senior Mohamed Ensaad followed Meli in second and third place, respectively, with times of 24:52.1 and 25:06.9.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Fairmont State’s Donovan Tanouye in fourth place, with a time of 25:18.4, and Luke McKenna of Pittsburgh’s Point Park University in fifth, with a time of 25:19.8. Point Park finished second in team standings.

University of Charleston Head Coach Nick Bias was also named 2026 MEC Men’s Cross Country Coach of the year.

The top 10 finishers earned All-MEC First Team honors, while runners finishing 11th through 20th received Second Team recognition.

First Team All-MEC

• Mathew Meli, Charleston
• Kelvin Kipchumba, Charleston
• Mohamed Ensaad, Charleston
• Donovan Tanouye, Fairmont State
• Luke McKenna, Point Park 
• Patrick Reilly, Glenville State
• Harry Witt, Charleston
• Nathan Bonnet, Charleston
• Skylar Hudnall, Charleston
• Braden Ward, Concord 

Second Team All-MEC

• Ari Snyder, Point Park
• Andrew Bowen, Davis & Elkins
• Noah Revels, Charleston
• Kent Niland, West Virginia Wesleyan 
• Brandon Canaday, Concord
• Chase Bowen, Point Park 
• Gavin McDonald, West Virinia Wesleyan
• Dan Reeve, Davis & Elkins
• Albin Petschauer, Point Park 
• Elijah Bechdel, Point Park

Team Champion: University of Charleston
Runner of the Year: Mathew Meli, Charleston 
Freshman of the Year: Mathew Meli, Charleston 
Coach of the Year: Nick Bias, Charleston