Oilers End Season at Regional Championship
The University of Findlay men's and women's cross country teams concluded their 2013 seasons at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship held in Kenosha, WI on Saturday, November 9.
The men's team finished 27th of 29 competing teams and the women finished 15th of 27 teams. The top three schools automatically advanced to the DII National Championship held in two weeks in Spokane, WA.
The men were led, as they have all season long, by junior Jacob Hayes who finished in 128th of 191 runners. Hayes finished with a time 34:47 in the 10 kilometer race.
Other runners for the Oilers were freshman Reid Wolin (150, 35:25), freshman Seth Pemberton (171, 37:08), sophomore Derek Bornhorst (173, 37:23), freshman Aaron Cingle (178, 37:51), and freshman Josh Seedorf (179, 37:52).
The men's team will look to build on this season's highlights for the 2014 season as they return all six regional runners and welcome back from injury senior Justin Eilerman, who holds the second fastest eight and ten kilometer times in Oiler history.
The women were led by Alexa Stults who finished in 72nd of 185 runers with a time of 23:14, the 14th fastest time in school history. The senior ends her career with multiple spots in Findlay's record book, holding the 12th fastest five kilometer time (18:48) and 13th fastest six kilometer time (23:09).
Finishing close behind Stults was Melanie Ruich, who caps a solid freshman campaign by finishing 78th with a time of 23:25.
Other runners for the Oiler women were sophomore Erica Bettac (82, 23:29), senior Samantha Hassen (96, 23:39), sophomore Samantha Grippe (105, 23:44), sophomore McKenzie Mahlmeister (154, 25:19), and freshman Erin Reinhart-Anez (170, 26:15).
The women need to replace a pair of seniors but return a solid core and will count on their experience in every race of the 2014 season.