WEST LIBERTY — Hannah Kemp arrived at West Liberty University after a successful prep running career at Union Local.

However, the true freshman entered her initial cross country season with none of what she accomplished in high school in mind.

“I had a clean slate,” Kemp said. “I told myself I had no expectations and I just needed to run.”

And she’s not only ran. She’s ran really well, too.

“The season has been a great experience so far as it’s definitely been a season of ‘new beginnings,'” Kemp relayed. “I really enjoy the distance running atmosphere of college and my love for the sport is growing. I am very happy with my current progress, but I will keep striving to improve.”

Kemp has been the Hilltoppers leader throughout the season and last weekend had maybe her best showing yet when she placed 24th overall in a large field, featuring numerous Division I schools, at the Greater Louisville Classic.

Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed. She was named the Mountain East Conference’s Female Runner of the Week.

“I was very surprised when I heard that I received the award,” Kemp said. “I was also very excited because my (male) teammate Danah Phillips also received it.”

Kemp finished the race in the Bluegrass State with a personal-best time of 18 minutes, 53.7 seconds, which was just under a minute off the winning time.

“I have tried to focus on just running and enjoying the moment,” Kemp said. “I have been prioritizing pre-hab and rehab to stay healthy and I’ve learned, in transitioning to college, the importance of increased mileage and better overall fitness, but I have also found that recovery is just as important.”

Kemp and the Hilltoppers return to action Saturday in Pittsburgh at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational.

“For the remainder of the season, I would like to continue with what I have been doing,” Kemp said. “My coach always re-iterates how ‘consistency is key in our sport’ and that is what I would like to follow. I would like to finish the season with no regrets and just keep trying to improve.”

Here’s a look at other Ohio Valley products:

DIVISION I

FBS

COLTON MCKIVITZ, West Virginia — Red-shirt senior started once again at left tackle in the Mountaineers loss to Texas. He also graced the cover of the game-day program.

AUSTIN DORRIS, Bowling Green — Shadyside graduate played in the Falcons’ 52-0 loss at Notre Dame.

CHUCKWUDI CHUCKWU, Ohio — Linsly School graduate played in the Bobcats’ overtime win over Buffalo.

MANDELLA LAWRENCE-BURKE, Kent State — Steubenville grad recorded three tackles in the Flashes’ loss at Wisconsin.

FCS

ELIJAH BELL, North Carolina A&T — Wheeling Park grad continued to assault the record book at A&T. He became the school’s all-time leader in receptions. He caught 3 more passes for 65 yards.

MAALIK RICHMOND, Youngstown State — Steubenville grad posted two tackles and recovered a fumble in the Penguins’ loss at Northern Iowa.

DIVISION II

COLE SKAGGS, West Virginia Wesleyan — St. Clairsville grad had one solo tackle in a loss to Notre Dame College.

GEREMY PAIGE, California, Pa. — Wheeling Park grad had two tackles in a loss to IUP.

ZACH PHILLIPS, West Liberty — Wheeling Park product completed 16-of-32 passes for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown in a loss to West Virginia State.

NATE PHILLIPS, West Liberty — Wheeling Park grad had a tackle in last week’s game.

JACK DAVIS, West Liberty — Martins Ferry grad finished with five tackles, including one for loss. He also recovered a fumble.

CODY ENRIETTI, West Liberty — Weir High grad had four tackles, including 1.5 for loss last week.

CLAY MCDONALD, West Liberty — Wheeling Park grad posted eight tackles and had a quarterback hurry in a loss to West Virginia State.

KOTY HUDSON, West Liberty — Brooke High product started at safety for the Hilltoppers.

KYLE RITZ, West Liberty — Magnolia grad rushed once for 5 yards.

THOMAS COLE, West Liberty — Brooke product caught 6 passes for 45 yards.

ZACH HAUGHT, West Liberty — Magnolia product played in last week’s game at West Virginia State.

REED REITTER, West Liberty — True freshman from Weir High punted six times for a 44.8 yard average. He dropped two inside the 20 yard line.

CHANCE RUCKER, West Liberty — Caldwell grad started once again at left guard for the Hilltoppers.

TYLER ELY, West Liberty — Steubenville grad started at right tackle for the Hilltoppers.

RYAN LAFOLLETTE, Wheeling — Monroe Central grad caught five passes for 22 yards in the Cardinals’ loss to Charleston.

JACK FITCH, Wheeling — Martins Ferry grad served as the holder on PATs during the Cardinals loss to Charleston.

JAKE KEENAN, Wheeling — Toronto grad caught three passes for 23 yards and rushed once for 8 yards.

MATT GREENWOOD, Wheeling — St. Clairsville product punted fort times for a 36.8 yard average with one being downed inside the 20. He kicked off three times for a 49-yard average and had a tackle.

ZACH EKEY, Wheeling — Steubenville grad started at right tackle for the Cardinals.

BRADY KOLB, Wheeling — True freshman from St. Clairsville had a 12-yard kickoff return in the loss to Charleston.

KEONTE HOLMES, Wheeling — Steubenville alumnus appeared in last Saturday’s game for the Cardinals.

JOHNNY AGRESTA, Walsh — Steubenville grad played during the Walsh victory.

ALIJAH DEMITRAS, Walsh — Steubenville grad started once again at center as the Cavaliers posted their first win of the season, 21-6, over Lake Erie College.

DIVISION III

CHRISTIAN WITCHEY, St. Vincent’s — St. Clairsville grad continued to put up a strong season. He punted seven times for a 32-yard average with a long of 42.

VON WOODING, Oberlin — Senior linebacker from Linsly posted seven tackles, forced fumble and had a tackle for loss in a 12-7 loss to Kenyon.

JERMAIN SNODGRASS, Bethany — Wheeling Park grad posted four tackles in a loss to Washington & Jefferson.

DE’VAUGHN MCWHORTER, Bethany — Wheeling Park grad played in last week’s loss.

DREW LOWERY, Muskingum — Buckeye Trail product posted six tackles and a quarterback hurry in a loss to John Carroll.

LUKE MENGES, Waynesburg — Union Local grad posted four tackles as the Jackets picked up their first victory of the season.

LUCAS DONLEY, Waynesburg — Union Local product had two tackles in the Jackets’ win.

BEN HOWELL, Waynesburg — Union Local grad contributed a tackle during the win last weekend.

CHASE ESPEN, Waynesburg — St. Clairsville graduate started at right tackle in the Jackets win over Thiel.

JUSTIN LOUGHRIE, Geneva — Brooke grad carried seven times for 13 yards in a win over St. Vincent’s.

TANNER CLARK, Marietta — Caldwell grad rushed 25 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns during the Pioneers’ loss to Ohio Northern. He also caught 4 passes for 22 yards.

VIC GIOVENGO, Marietta — Linsly grad posted eight tackles, including a sack in last week’s loss.

MAX TICE, Marietta — Toronto product was in on four tackles last week.

TROY PONTIUS, Marietta — Buckeye Trail grad had two tackles last week.

BOONE JONES, Marietta — Shenandoah product had a tackle last week.

HAYDEN DALEY, Marietta — Steubenville Central alumnus appeared in last week’s loss to Ohio Northern.

LUKE WATT, Marietta — St. Clairsville grad appeared in the Pioneers’ loss last week.

COLE GRIFFIN, John Carroll — Linsly School product posted a tackle in a loss last week.

IAN PHILLIPS, Washington & Jefferson — Steubenville grad connected on a PAT kick in last week’s win over Bethany.

CROSS COUNTRY

CHASE STEWART, Youngstown State — The former Shadyside all-Ohioan is red shirting this fall as he recovers from an injury. He expects to be back for indoor track this winter and outdoor during the spring.

GOLF

EMILY HOLZOPFEL, Wheeling — Former Buckeye Local standout finished tied for 14th with a score of 259.

HOWIE PETERSON, West Liberty — Madonna product finished tied for 8th in the MEC event with a score of 227. He moved up four spots during the final round.

KAILEE PETTIT, West Liberty — John Marshall grad finished 8th with a three-day score of 254 in the MEC tournament.

DOROTHY ROMANEK, Davis & Elkins — Former Wheeling Park Patriot finished 17th overall with a score of 267 in the MEC event.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

ALYSSA OTTO, Mercyhurst — Freshman from St. Clairsville continues to pile up goals for the Lakers. She scored her team’s lone goal in a loss to Indiana, Pa. last weekend.

Staskey can be reached via email at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com or at twitter.com/TLSportsSeth