Sept. 22, 2008

CEDARVILLE, Ohio - The Bluffton University cross country teams traveled to Cedarville University for the 18th annual Friendship Invitational on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Great weather at Cedarville and a productive week of practice allowed the Beavers to shave considerable amounts off time off their season-opening performances at Defiance on Sept. 13.

Junior Sarah Binkley (Bluffton/Cory-Rawson) paced the Bluffton University women's team as she improved her time to 22:49.83 and placed 66th overall. Freshman Heather Smith (Elkhart, Ind./Concord) finished 79th and crossed the line at 23:26.93. Rachel Huelsman (Celina/Coldwater) improved her time to 25:52.55, placing 104th overall. Senior Deborah Davis (Seneca, Penn./Christian Life Academy) was not far behind in 106th with a time of 26:09.82. Rachel Giovarelli (Wauseon/Pettisville) was the last Beaver to cross the line for her team with a time of 28:50.21. The women's squad showed great improvement, dropping nearly a minute off its average time from the Defiance Invitational a week ago.   

Freshman Andrew Chaffee (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston) led the Bluffton University men's team for the second straight week. Chaffee crossed the line at 29:53.83 and placed 79th. Senior Justin Derringer (Brookville/Brookville) was the next Beaver across the finish in 31:54.31 and he placed 103rd. Teammate Brian Timpe (Wauseon/Pike-Delta-York) was right behind Derringer with a time of 32:24.70. for 104th overall. Ben Siebert (Celina/Celina) clocked in 107th place with a time of 33:13.19. Junior Collin Wagner (Pettisville/Pettisville) rounded out the men's placers with a time of 35:38.07, good for 117th overall. The men's team average was 32:36.82 at the Cedarville Invitational.

Following a week off, the Beavers return to action Saturday, October 4th, when they travel to Earlham College. The meet is slated to start at 11 a.m.

-BEAVERS-