BLUFFTON, Ohio - The Bluffton University cross country team kicked off its 2019 slate on Saturday, Aug. 31, when it hosted the Beaver Dam Invite. A third place finish by the women highlighted the morning as the Beavers were just five points (66-61) off the pace set by Heidelberg University.

With a large contingent of Bluffton Cross Country Alumni also showing off their wheels on the course, senior Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) led the way for the Beavers with a fifth place finish in 19:41.6 for the 5-kilometer race. Arie Cox (Ontario) and junior Kimberly Hetrick (Fremont/Ross) crossed back-to-back with times of 21:13.6 and 21:16.6, respectively. Rounding out the scorers for the home team were freshman Justine Lesniewski (Mantua/Crestwood) and sophomore Hope Nixon (Jamestown/Jamestown-Monroe).

Pacing the Bluffton men was Dakota Frost (Edgerton/Hicksville) who ran a 20:28 in the 6-kilometer race. Fellow senior Connor Gulick (St. Louisville/Utica) pushed Frost with a 20:48.6. A former Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference champion and current member of That Dam Track Club, Jack Fisher showed he still had it with a time of 20:56.5. Fellow freshmen Max Chandler (Liberty Township/Lakota East) and Britton Boyle (Middletown) both cracked 21:30, while Austin Hernandez (Marion/Ridgedale) capped off the scoring five.

The Beavers will now turn their attention toward the OWU Invitational hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday, Sept. 14. The men's race is slated for 10:30 a.m. with the women to follow at 11:30 a.m. in Powell, Ohio.

-BEAVERS-