By: Shannon Ramer, sports information assistant

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - The Bluffton University cross country teams competed in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Cross Country Championship with runners from more than 33 other schools at the campus of Otterbein College on Saturday, November 15, 2008.

Freshman ANDREW CHAFFEE (Clarkston, Michigan/Clarkston) was the first runner to cross the line on the men's side. He placed 177th with a time of 28:11.42. The next Beaver to cross the line was senior JUSTIN DERRINGER (Brookville) who finished 217th with a time of 29:40.80. Less than 10 seconds behind Derringer was teammate BRIAN TIMPE (Wauseon/Pike-Delta-York) who crossed the line at 29:50.55 and placed 220th. The final Bluffton Beaver to finish was junior BEN SIEBERT (Celina). He finished 232nd with a time of 31:36.82.

The top performance on the women's side was turned in by junior SARAH BINKLEY(Bluffton/Cory-Rawson).  She placed 199th with a time of 27:23.97. Freshman HEATHER SMITH (Elkhart, Indiana/Concord) was the next Beaver to cross the line at 28:15.68 (206th). Senior DEB DAVIS (Seneca, Penn./Christian Life Academy) placed 220th with a time of 30:25.21. Freshmen RACHEL HUELSMAN (Celina/Coldwater) and RACHEL GIOVARELLI(Wauseon/Pettisville) finished 231st and 232nd, respectively, with times of 31:58.04 and 32:14.30

The race today brings the 2008 cross country season to a close for the Bluffton University harriers.