Oilers Compete at the Jenna Strong Classic in Wilmington
The University of Findlay's men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Jenna Strong Classic in Wilmington, Ohio on Friday, October 18.
The Oiler women had an impressive showing as they finished in 4th place (scoring a 169) of 34 competing teams.
Leading Findlay was senior Alexa Stults who set a personal best by running an 18:48. This time was good enough for eighth place and also put Stults in the Oiler's record book as she ran the twelfth fastest 5 kilometer time in Findlay's women's history.
Also setting a record time was freshman Melanie Ruich who placed 11th with a time of 18:50. This time surpassed Leigh Ann Moran's time set in 1991 and gave Ruich the 13th fastest time in the team's history.
Sophomore Samantha Grippe also ran well and came in 41st of the 398 runners with a time of 19:22 and earning just 39 points towards the team score.
Close behind Grippe was senior Samantha Hassen who finished only eight seconds later (19:30) and came in 52nd place.
The final Oiler to finish with a sub-20 minute time was sophomore Erica Bettac. She came in 61st with a time of 19:40.
Others in competition for Findlay were sophomore McKenzie Mahlmeister (20:08), freshman Erin Reinhart-Anez (20:26), freshman Maud Sanmiquel (20:41), sophomore Meredith Hoops (20:57), and freshman Kailey Coleman (22:18).
The men finished in 15th of 34 teams.
The Oilers were paced by junior standout Jacob Hayes again gets himself into the record book by running a 25:12, which was good enough for 4th place of the 416 runners. This time is the 5th fastest in Findlay's men's history, just ahead of his old best (25:25) which he ran last fall.
The next finisher for the Oilers was freshman Reid Wolin who came in with a time of 27:12 in the 8 kilometer race. That time placed Wolin 100th.
Other finishers for Findlay were sophomore Derek Bornorst (27:22), freshman Josh Seedorf (27:44), freshman Aaron Cingle (28:35), freshman Seth Pemberton (28:47), freshman Shane Stein (29:21), sophomore Nick Valerio (31:01), and junior Dillon Webster (32:23).
Findlay will begin their postseason as their next race is the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship race in Houghton, Michigan next Saturday, October 26 beginning at 11:45am.