CEDARVILLE, Ohio- On Friday, Sept. 15, the Bluffton University Beavers traveled to Cedarville University for their first road meet, as well as their first full-length race of the year! This was a big competition for the Beavers, as this race was the 2023 All-Ohio Intercollegiate Challenge! With 464 men competing on Friday and 343 women, the Beavers had a huge field to race with and they gave it their all on the course.

Kicking off the All-Ohio race was the Men's 8k championship. Flying across the line and placing in 26th overall on the day was senior Karter Tow (Van Wert/Lincolnview). Tow crossed the line with a time of 25:35, setting a PR and securing the second fastest time in Bluffton University school history while taking 10th among all Division III runners! Finishing in second for the Beavers was junior Cole Kropka (New London), putting up a time of 27:35, and in third was senior Alex Montross (Perrysburg) with a time of 28:24!

Setting a new 8k PR was junior Braeden Horn (Galion), finishing a great race with a time of 28:25! Junior Aiden Brien (Springfield/Kenton Ridge) also set a new PR, finishing the race with a time of 31:48! Setting new PRs at their first collegiate 8k races were freshman Chandler McCafferty (West Liberty/West Liberty-Salem) with a time of 30:55, Grant Beasley (Versailles) running 31:28, and Micah Dodson (Wooster/Central Christian) with a time of 33:01.

In the women's 6k race, junior Basil Gates (Galion) led the Beavers with a quick time of 25:08! Next across the line was freshman McKenna Mabry (Ventura, Cal./Buena), running a 26:48 in her first collegiate race. Following closely behind her and forming a pack were junior Sammie Unger (Kenton) with a time of 27:13 and senior Jenia Freewalt (Delphos/St. John's) with a time of 27:21! Mabry, Unger, and Freewalt finished within 33 seconds, forming a solid pack!

"I think this week was another step in the right direction," said Head Coach Connor Gulick. "We had a lot of good packs on both teams which has been a big emphasis for us these past few weeks. It was nice to see a lot of good competition and a lot of the top teams in the region and how we stacked up."

As the Beavers head into more training, they keep their sights set on their next competition, the Ohio Wesleyan University Invite at Liberty Park on Friday, Sept. 29!

-BEAVERS-