By: Tami Groff, sports information assistant
OBERLIN, Ohio - The Bluffton Beavers traveled to Oberlin College on Saturday, Oct. 19 and ran fantastic races at the annual Inter-Regional Rumble!
The ladies took off from the line first in the open 6k race. Once again, senior Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) came in first for the Beavers with a 3rd place finish in an impressive season-best time of 23:25. Junior Bailie Barrington (Waynesfield, OH/Waynesfield-Goshen) had an amazing comeback race, coming in 2nd for the team at a time of 23:56, which is a season best for her. Senior Arie Cox (Ontario, OH/Ontario) ran to an impressive 20-second personal record of 24:13.
Junior Kimmie Hetrick (Fremont, OH/Ross) crossed the line 4th with a time of 25:29. Senior Tami Groff (Versailles, OH/Versailles) rounded out the top 5 with a season best showing of 26:33. Sophomore Hope Nixon (Johnstown, OH/Johnstown-Monroe), with a season best, and freshman Justine Lesniewski (Mantua, OH/Crestwood), with a personal record, were 6th and 7th for the Beavers. The women put together an impressive team finish of 7th out of 25 teams. "This was the best group race this year that we have had. There is definitely another level of racing the ladies have in themselves and I know they can accomplish it. The race today was a huge step in the right direction and it brought a lot of confidence for them since conference is in two weeks," stated Head Coach Logan Wells.
The guys took off next in the open 8k race and they were looking to step up on Saturday. Dakota Frost (Edgerton, OH/Hicksville) came in with an impressive 19th finish thanks to a season-best of 26:54. Right on Frost's heals was fellow senior Connor Gulick (St. Louisville, OH/Utica) who had a stout finish and a personal record of 27:00. Freshman Max Chandler (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) came in 3rd for the team with a season best of 27:53.
Sophomore Austin Hernandez (Marion, OH/Ridgedale) took 4th for the team with a time of 28:42, which destroyed his previous personal record. Rounding out the top 5 was freshman Morgan Adams (Dublin, OH/Coffman) with an amazing 2-minute personal record with a time of 30:05. The guys finished with a solid 13th place finish out of 28 teams. "Not having Britton at the race was not a great situation for the men in the team standings, but we had a lot of guys step up and run either personal records or season bests. Hernandez knocked another minute off of his personal record, Adams took two minutes off his personal record and Gulick shaved 10 seconds off his personal record. This was great to see the entire team step up when one of our best runners could not run," quipped Coach Wells.
"Overall, there were five personal records, and six season bests between both teams out of a total of 12 runners. The exciting thing for me as a coach is when the team can do that, it was a good day, and I know they can run even better," Coach Wells said when looking towards conference in two weeks.
The Beavers will head to Terre Houte, Ind., for the HCAC Championships on Sunday, Nov. 3. The women will take off at noon and with the men slated for a 1 p.m. start.
-BEAVERS-