ITHACA, N.Y. – The Empire 8 Conference released its yearly awards for the cross country season on Friday, December 2, and Ithaca College was well represented on the men's and women's sides.

Senior Sean Phillips, of the men's squad, was selected as the Empire 8's Runner of the Year. Phillips paced Ithaca to another Empire 8 title (seventh straight) on October 29 in Oneonta, N.Y. and claimed the individual crown with a time of 25:45.9 on the 8K course, which was nearly 13 seconds faster than the runner-up. He earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championships this season and finished 148th overall in a time of 25:42.7.

Freshman Annie Morrison, from the women's team, was voted as the conference's Rookie of the Year. Morrison is the seventh freshman runner for IC to be named the Empire 8's top rookie and first since 2011. She finished eighth at the conference meet to top all freshman entries with a time of 19:13.3 on the 5K course, and was also one of the best freshman at the NCAA Atlantic Regional meet with an overall placement of 46th out of 304 runners. Morrison also made a trip to the NCAA DIII Championship as Ithaca placed 11th overall as a team.

Both coaching staff garnered recognition as well.

Jim Nichols and his staff mentored the men to their ninth overall Empire 8 title as seven runners finished within the top 15, including four first-team runners.

Erin Dinan and the women's staff coached the Bombers to their 14th consecutive conference crown in late October. Nine of Ithaca's runners were top 20 finishers – six first-team athletes and three second-teamers.