WAYNESBURG — Hand Rebecca Pennington a new goal sheet. She needs to fill one out.

The Karns City graduate and Chatham University freshman cross country standout won the Presidents' Athletic Conference championship meet Saturday at Waynesburg.

Pennington crossed the finish line in 23 minutes, 33.53 seconds — 19 seconds in front of runner-up Rachel Martin, a Grove City College senior and Mars resident.

“Our coach has us fill out a goal sheet at the start of the year,” Pennington said. “My original goal was to place among the top 25 at the PAC Championships.

“Yeah, I have to come back with some higher goals for next year.”

Of course, this year's not over yet.

Pennington will be competing in the regional meet Nov. 9 at DeSales University in Central Pa. She hopes to qualify for Division III nationals at that meet.

“I'm right on the edge time-wise for that. We'll have to see,” Pennington said.

Chatham coach John Morrow admits the region meet will be a challenge for his star runner.

But not an impossible one.

“They take the top nine ladies from there and we'll be up against sone bigger schools,” Morrow said. “But I won't count Rebecca out. Just to experience nationals this year would be a tremendous experience for her.”

Pennington received the PAC Runner of the Year Award and was named first team all-conference. She won the race despite running in nasty weather conditions.

“It was cold and rainy,” she said. “There was a lot of damage done to the course. There were some big puddles and it was pretty muddy out there.

“It was hard to get traction. I stepped in a big puddle near the finish and twisted my foot. A few girls behind me fell down. It was rough.”

Morrow wasn't surprised by how well Pennington handled the course conditions. He wasn't shocked she won the race.

She exceeded his expectations regardless.

“I knew we were getting an outstanding runner. Rebecca was all-state last year,” Morrow said. “But her attention to detail is awesome. It sets her apart.

“She puts in the mileage, the workouts. She's great with stretching and staying loose. She makes it a point to visit our trainer once a day to make sure she's stretching properly.

“Rebecca is a competitor. She shows it every day,” Morrow added.

Pennington won a pre-conference meet three weeks ago “which gave me an idea I could win this one,” she said of the PAC championship.

And she already has one new goal in mind.

“Winning the PAC title all four years. I definitely want to do that,” Pennington said.

She hasn't lost to another runner in the conference all season.

“As long as she stays healthy, I don't think she ever will,” Morrow said.

Pennington is majoring in biology and is in pre-med at Chatham. She became the school's first Runner of the Year since Chatham joined the PAC in 2007.