By: Tami Groff, sports information assistant
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Bluffton University Cross Country Team traveled to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete at the Heartland Conference Championships on Sunday, Nov. 3. At the conference meet, the 1st to 12th place finishers earn all conference and receive a plaque while 13th through 20th are named honorable mention.
The guys took off first in the 8k race. Senior Dakota Frost (Edgerton, OH/Hicksville) earned a 17th place finish out of 88 runners with a time of 27:51. With him being on the top 20, he was named honorable mention. Senior Connor Gulick (St. Louisville, OH/Utica) came in 30th with a time of 28:55.
Freshman Max Chandler (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) was 3rd for the team with a time of 29:10. Sophomore Austin Hernandez (Marion, OH/Ridgedale) came in 44th with a time of 29:31. Rounding out the top 5 for Bluffton was freshman Britton Boyle (Middletown, OH/Middletown) who finished with a time of 30:12. Freshman Morgan Adams (Dublin, OH/Coffman) finished with a time of 30:30. The men placed 6th.
The women took off from the line next in the 6k race. Senior Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) came in first for the Beavers with a 7th place finish in time of 24:31. She was the two-time defending HCAC women's cross country champion. Junior Bailie Barrington (Waynesfield, OH/Waynesfield-Goshen) came in 11th at a time of 25:04. Both Cash and Barrington secured all conference.
Junior Kimberly Hetrick (Fremont, OH/Ross) placed 15th with a time of 25:39 en route to honorable mention recognition. Senior Arie Cox (Ontario, OH/Ontario) took 4th for the Beavers with a time of 26:14. Senior Tami Groff (Versailles, OH/Versailles) rounded out the top 5 with a time of 27:19.
Sophomore Hope Nixon (Johnstown, OH/Johnstown-Monroe), with a time of 27:46, and freshman Justine Lesniewski (Mantua, OH/Crestwood), with a time of 29:23, came in 6th and 7th for the Beavers who finished in 4th place as a team.
"For both teams, it was not what we wanted to place. We are all looking forward to some revenge at Regionals," stated Groff.
The Beavers will head to Calvin College for the NCAA Great Lakes Regionals on Saturday, Nov. 16.
-BEAVERS-