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Bluffton opens 2012 campaign at ONU

Posted: Sep 01, 2012

Sept. 1, 2012
By: Bryson Hartzler, sports information assistant

ADA, Ohio - The Bluffton University men's and women's cross country teams opened their season this weekend at the ONU Invitational on the campus of Ohio Northern University. The invitational hosted a strong field, including an ONU program with a men's team ranked 9th in the Great Lakes Region and a women's team ranked 16th nationally. The distances for the invitational were modified from 8k to 6k for the men and 6k to 4k for the women.

The men started the season with a fourth place finish, including three top twenty-five finishers among collegiate athletes. The first to cross the line for the Beavers was freshman Zachary Smith (West Unity/Hilltop) in 20:21.50 which was good for 13th place. Sophomore Ryan Schadewald (Lima/Bath) finished 20th with a time of 20:52.60 and junior transfer Martin Russ (Rocky River) rounded out the top three for the Beavers in 23rd place in 21:10.30.

The women also finished in fourth place with two top twenty-five finishers, led by freshmen Demi Snider (Kenton) with a time of 15:52.60 and followed closely by her teammate, senior captain Alison Janzen (Whitewater, KS/Remington), in 15:55.10. Snider and Janzen took 17th and 21st, respectively.
 
With a roster that includes 13 freshmen and other first time collegiate runners, head coach Karen Brandt was proud that her team was not in awe of the impressive field. Coach Brandt was pleased to see determination and focus from her young team. Overall the first meet was a step in the right direction as Bluffton looks to run its best races at the end of the season.
 
The Beavers return to action Saturday, Sept. 8 at home for the "The Back to the Nature Preserve" Invitational.