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Cross Country Team Claims Awards; Brenneman Wins WPCC Title & Kuhar Named Coach Of The Year

Pennsylvania Highlands Community College sophomore Chase Brenneman won the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Individual Championship and Black Bears coach Adrianne Kuhar was named the conference’s Coach of the Year at the WPCC/Region 20 Cross Country Meet on Saturday at Westmoreland County Community College. 

Brenneman (Somerset, PA) finished eighth overall out of 41 runners to claim the conference crown. He was the first competitor from a Division III school to cross the finish line, posting a time of 30:08.7. 

“In the seven years of my athletics career, I have had many highs and lows,” Brenneman said. “Throughout this, I have learned important life lessons, with the highest being persistence. Regionals was a tough race with many talented competitors, but the result came from good coaching all season. This race will be a stepping stone for my athletic future.” 

Brenneman has finished within the Top 10 in all five meets this year. After posting a fourth-place finish in the season opener, Brenneman was runner-up in three consecutive meets prior to Saturday. 

Teammates Christian Haberkorn and Connor Haberkorn placed 21st and 37th, respectively.  

Afterwards, Kuhar (Mundy’s Corner, PA) was awarded WPCC Coach of the Year in her first season at the helm. 

“It’s truly an honor to be given this award,” Kuhar said. “I would not be in this position if it were not for my student assistant coaches and my team of dedicated runners. They are the ones that deserve the credit for putting in all the hard work during practices and then carrying that strong effort into our races. Thank you to all of them and everyone within the Penn Highlands community for the support we received this season.” 

The Black Bears will compete next at the NJCAA National Meet on November 11 at the John Hunt Cross Country Running Park in Huntsville, Alabama.  

Penn Highlands is looking to build off a 16th place finish at last year’s national meet.

Black Bears Cross Country Coach Adrianne Kuhar is holding her WPCC Coach of the Year award at Westmoreland County Community College after the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 meet (October 2023).

The Pennsylvania Highlands Community College Black Bears Cross Country Team, including (from left) Connor Haberkorn, student assistant coach Tim Roddy, student assistant coach Andrew Straka, Chase Brenneman, head coach Adrianne Kuhar and Christian Haberkorn, pose for a photo after the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference/Region 20 meet, Saturday, at Westmoreland County Community College (October 2023).