Regionally Ranked Oilers Compete at Louisville Classic
Louisville, KY – The University of Findlay men's and women's cross-country teams participated at one of the biggest meets in the country on Saturday, Oct. 1, traveling to Louisville, Kentucky for the 2022 Louisville Cross Country Classic. The event features six college races, four high school races, and seven middle school races over the course of two days. Findlay's men, ranked seventh in the Midwest region, participated in the men's 8k gold race while the women, ranked tenth in the Midwest region, took part in the women's 5k blue race. The men, competing against a myriad of Division I teams including four schools from Power-5 conferences, finished 25th in the gold race. The Oilers women, competing in a field of 47 teams, finished 13th.
Men
Findlay's top finisher was sophomore Noah Fisher who continues what has been an incredible start to his collegiate career. The Defiance, Ohio native was in 21st at both the 2.1k and 3.9k splits, but finished with a push to climb his way into an 18th place finish with a time of 24:00.6, the second-best time in school history.
Ending the race in 49th was senior Nick DeHaven who came out of the gate fast and found himself in 12th through 2,100 meters mark. He remained near the front of the pack, finding himself in 13th through 3,900-meters, but then fell back 36 spots to finish 49th in the field of more than 300 runners. DeHaven's time was 24:19.7 which places him in third all-time at UF by a tenth of a second.
Sophomore Jordan Foster found himself in 30th through the first split and would ultimately finish in 139th with a time of 25:06.1 which is good for 12th all-time at Findlay. Finishing in 240th was sophomore Connor Hill who clocked a time of 26:07.2.
Also running a sub-27-minute race was sophomore Colin Moats who finished 254th with a time of 26:18.2 and close behind was sophomore Zack Britton who finished 268th with a time of 26:34.4.
Rounding out Findlay's competitors were sophomore Dylan Hickey (290 | 27:19.1) and freshman Brady Johns (299 | 28:53.2).
Women
Competing in a race of more than 400 runners, Findlay's top finisher was sophomore Ava Beam. Through 2,100 meters she found herself in 20th, but she slowly slid to ultimately finish in 34th with a time of 18:31.8, the sixth-best time in program history.
Just 30 seconds behind was sophomore Maya Hamsher who would end her day in 79th with a time of 19:01.0. Junior Meghan Donoher locked in a time of 19:13.6 to take 105th while sophomore Reilly Cozette took 131st with a time of 19:27.7.
Freshman Taylor Ward found herself in 219th through the first 2,100 meters, but climbed 50 spots to 169th through 3,900 meters. She continued to make moves, improving by 30 spots to finish in 139th with a time of 19:29.6.
Sophomore Hailey Wilson was next across the line, finishing 323rd with a time of 20:58.6 while sophomore Bailey Chenevey finished in 334th with a 21:08.8.
Findlay will return to action on Oct. 14 with the Jenna Strong Classic in Wilmington, Ohio.