Women's Results  I  Men's Results

CINCINNATI, Ohio - In oppressively hot conditions, the Bluffton University harriers ran in the Queen City Invitational in Mason, Ohio on Friday, Sept. 5.  Tri-hosted by Northern Kentucky, Xavier and University of Cincinnati, the meet was a gathering of mainly Division I schools with a number of Division II and III as well as NAIA schools in attendance from throughout Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The Beavers acquitted themselves well in this high caliber, early season meet.

Sophomore Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul), in only his third year of cross country, led the men's team with a 34th place finish among non-Division I competitors.  He was followed across the line by junior Zach Bradley (Sheffield/Brookside), and a trio of freshmen, Kris Lyons (Vickery/Margaretta), Chris Tatom (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) and Jacob Knuth (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich./Grosse Pointe South) to complete the scoring five.  HCAC rival Franklin finished one team place ahead of Bluffton and within reach by the end of the season.

On the women's side of the ledger, sophomore Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario), also in only her third season of cross competition, led her teammates with a strong finish among non-Division 1 athletes.  She was soon followed by freshman Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro), sophomore Raven Wilson (Coshocton/Riverview), junior Tara Murphy (Westerville/Thomas Worthington) and sophomore Kati O'Neill (Wapakoneta) to complete the scoring members of the team.

"With the heat index exceeding 95 degrees on a course with little shade, it would have been easy to back out of a hard effort today," said Head Coach Karen Brandt.  "I was pleased to see that on the contrary, both teams refused to wilt and showed great resolve to perform well." The Beavers are next in action on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Otterbein University in Westerville.

-BEAVERS-