By: Kaleb Schweiger, sports information assistant

MASON, Ohio - The Beaver harriers traveled south to the greater Cincinnati area to compete in the pre-national cross country invitational. This was the only opportunity that Division 3 schools across the nation had to compete on the course that will be used for the 2014 cross country national championship. As one would anticipate, a huge inter-regional field showed up and the Beavers rose to the occasion.

Sophomore Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul), in only his third season of running cross country led the men's team with a huge school record of 25:06.69 shattering the old record by 50 seconds. (a pace of 5:02 per mile for the 8k distance). In a field of 375, Fisher crossed the line 49th, and the second HCAC finisher. He was followed about a minute later by teammate Zach Bradley (Sheffield/Brookside), running number two for the Beavers. Freshmen who continue to impress, Kris Lyons (Vickery/Margaretta) and Chris Tatom (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) finished not far off Bradley's superb performance. Sophomore Shawn Campo (Galion) rounded out the scoring five, all of whom ran huge PR's.

On the women's side of the ledger, sophomore Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario) crossed the line in 23:50 for the 6K distance, nearly a two-minute improvement from last week's performance. Freshman Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro) continued to impress, finishing just 34 seconds behind Hairston. Junior Tara Murphy (Westerville/Thomas Worthington), freshman Elaina Alpeter (Galloway/Hilliard Bradley) and sophomore Miranda Hostetler (Glenmont/West Holmes) rounded out the scoring five for Bluffton. As with the men, all five established PR performances.

Bluffton harriers are back in action on Friday, Oct. 3 in the All-Ohio Cross Country Championship at Cedarville University.

-BEAVERS-