Men's Results  I  Women's Results

CEDARVILLE, Ohio - On a classic cross country type day--spitting rain, high winds and temperatures in the mid-50’s--the Beaver harriers ran with composure and toughness in the All-Ohio Championship hosted by Cedarville University. In this truly championship style race, all colleges and universities across Ohio, Division I, II, III, NAIA and community colleges, took the line together with 647 men and 592 women crossing their respective finish lines.

In the men’s 8,000 meter race, junior Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul) led the men’s team home in 26:37. Senior Zach Bradley (Sheffield/Brookside), who was knocked down approximately 400 meters into the race and nearly trampled by the huge men’s field, ran a very creditable 28:07, despite feeling quite shaken by the fall. Freshman Jonah Eckert (Terre Haute, Ind./West Vigo) continued to show huge potential, finishing in 28:11 while sophomore Chris Tatom (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central), with a 28:20 clocking, took 32 seconds off last year’s race performance. Freshman Jacob Hill (Dayton/Wayne) rounded out the scoring five with 29:32, a 39-second improvement over last week’s race on the pre-regional course. The varsity seven were completed by freshman Michael Lehman (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) and sophomore Kris Lyons (Vickery/Margaretta).

The women’s team was down its typical #4 runner, Elaina Alpeter (Galloway/Hilliard Bradley), due to a family engagement out of state but nevertheless acquitted themselves quite nicely. Freshman Jennie Matteson (Guysville/Alexander) continued to lead the Beaver charge with a time of 24:08 over the 6,000 meter course. She was quickly followed over the line by junior Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario) in 24:15, a minute-plus improvement from last year’s race. Sophomore Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro) continues to show vast development from her freshman year coming in at 25:00, 57 seconds better than she posted last year, despite being plagued with some breathing difficulties late in the race. Devony Miller (Findlay/Liberty-Benton), another of this year’s fine freshmen class, took 35 seconds off last week’s performance, completing the course in 25:22 while freshman Michelle Kelsey (South Whitley, Ind./Whitko), in the final scoring position, dropped over a minute from her race last week, with a time of 27:29. Senior Kristin Schiefer (Bucyrus/Wynford) impressed with her sixth place varsity position while junior Miranda Hostettler (Glenmont/West Holmes) rounded out the varsity team.

“We raced very well in trying conditions, dealt with setbacks during the race, and still showed excellent development with both of these young teams,” said Head Coach Karen Brandt. “I am excited, as are they, for the remaining meets.” 

The teams now enter a two-week, no-race training block before heading to Oberlin College on Saturday, Oct. 17 for the Inter-Regional Rumble. Race times are:  11:00 a.m. Women’s Varsity; 11:45 a.m. Men’s Varsity; 12:30 p.m. Women’s Open; and 1:15 p.m. Men’s Open.

-BEAVERS-