October 17, 2015
OBERLIN, Ohio - The Inter-Regional Rumble cross country meet at Oberlin College presented the Bluffton University harriers a great opportunity to run season-best and personal-record times. The Beavers delivered while running among 30+ teams from throughout the state of Ohio as well as Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, many of whom are nationally ranked within their respective NCAA regions.
The ladies started the proceedings with junior Anna Hairston (Mansfield/Ontario) leading the charge in a near-school record time of 23:15 over the 6,000 meter course. Freshman Jennie Matteson (Guysville/Alexander) was next across the line in a PR time of 23:41. Sophomores Elaina Alpeter (Galloway/Hilliard Bradley) and Alissa Hauke (Hillsboro) as well as freshman Devony Miller (Findlay/Liberty-Benton) also posted best times of 24:06, 24:18 and 24:15, respectively, to complete the scoring five with a gap of only 1:02 among them, a tight group in this large and talented field of 244 finishers. The varsity seven were completed by new best performances from freshman Michelle Kelsey (South Whitley, Ind./Whitko) in 26:17 and junior Miranda Hostettler (Glenmont/West Holmes) in 26:57.
The men's team was not to be outdone by the women. Junior Jack Fisher (Norwalk/St. Paul) tripped the timer in 25:42, a PR over the 8,000 meter distance. Senior Zach Bradley (Sheffield/Brookside) returned to action with a season-best 26:45 followed not long afterward by freshman Jonah Eckert (Terre Haute, Ind./West Vigo) in an impressive 26:55. Freshman Jacob Hill (Dayton/Wayne) sliced huge time off his PR with a 27:47 clocking with sophomore Chris Tatom (Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central) rounding out the scoring five with a creditable 28:32 performance. To complete the varsity seven, freshman Michael Lehman (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) posted 29:14 with sophomore Kris Lyons (Vickery/Margaretta) running 29:37. In the men's open race that followed the varsity event, junior Shawn Campo (Galion), freshman Daniel Gregg (Ontario/Mansfield Christian) and junior Patrick Brean (Ashland) not only raced the competition but had a little intra-squad rivalry as well which pushed all of them to significantly faster times than they have posted all season.
"In a field of this caliber, where teams from a large area are pitting themselves against each other to improve their national ranking and eventual national at-large bid, it is sometimes difficult for an athlete to see what a fine performance they had when their individual or team finish looks perhaps mid-pack," said Head Coach Karen Brandt. "As coaches, we have never shied away from taking our teams to top-notch meets. If you stay in your back yard or race only smaller meets, you don't give your athletes a chance to take risks and grow. Basically everything we do all season is in preparation for the conference and regional championship meets at the end of the season. With only a few exceptions, we saw a lot of potential realized today, but with more yet to come."
The HCAC Championship hosted by Franklin University will take place on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Blue River Memorial Park in Shelbyville, Ind.. The women race at noon followed by the men at 1 p.m.
-BEAVERS-