By: Tami Groff, sports information assistant

WILMINGTON, Ohio - The Beavers traveled to Wilmington College to compete against a stout field of runners on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. Both the men and women had an opportunity to get in the top 35 places to be awarded a water bottle.

The ladies toed the line to run their 5k first. Senior Alexis Cash (Gaines, MI/Lake Fenton) was the only Beaver to place in the top 35, taking 34th with a season-best with time of 19:38. "This was our first time running this course and I wish I could run it again!" said Cash. Another senior, Arie Cox, (Ontario, OH/Ontario) came in second for the Beavers. Junior Kimmie Hetrick (Fremont, OH/Fremont-Ross) took 3rd with a time of 21:11.

Coming in with an amazing 4th place finish for the ladies with a collegiate best was sophomore Hope Nixon (Johnstown, OH/Johnstown-Monroe). "Hope had a near PR today. She has been running really well in practice, so it was great to see her fly around the course like she did today," stated Head Coach Logan Wells. Freshman Justine Lesniewski (Mantua, OH/Crestwood) rounded out the top 5 with a finish of 24:10. Senior Tami Groff (Versailles, OH/Versailles) finished 6th for the Beavers. "Looking back on the race," stated Coach Wells, "It wasn't our best today. They have had great training the past couple of weeks so I know there is greatness to come with these ladies." The women finished in 17th place.

The men took off next, destroying the 8k course. Freshman Britton Boyle (Middletown, OH/Middletown) finished first yet again for the Beavers with a time of 27:24, which was another personal record. The next two Beavers that crossed the finish line were seniors Connor Gulick (St. Louisville, OH/Utica) and Dakota Frost (Edgerton, OH/Hicksville).

Freshman Max Chandler (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) came in 4th with a time of 29:16. Rounding out the top 5 for the Beavers was sophomore Austin Hernandez (Marion, OH/Ridgedale) with a time of 29:50. Freshman Morgan Adams (Dublin, OH/Coffman) finished 6th for the men. Hernandez and Adams also ran a personal record on Friday. "Anytime you walk away to three PRs and a host of season bests, you know it is a great day. They came into this meet with the mentality to go out fast and they accomplished it. It shows that they can compete when it counts" quipped Coach Wells. The men finished in 19th place.

The Bluffton harriers will toe the line once again at the Inter-Regional Rumble on the campus of Oberlin College on Saturday, Oct. 19. The race starts at 10:30 a.m with the women running a 6k and the men an 8k.

-BEAVERS-