By: Jenia Freewalt, sports information assistant

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - On Saturday, Oct. 28, Defiance College hosted the 2023 HCAC Cross-Country Championships at Blue River in Shelbyville, Indiana. For some of the Beavers, it was their last cross-country race against their fellow Heartland Conference competitors.

Kicking off the meet was the men's 8k Race! Leading the Beavers with a season-best time of 27:09 was junior Cole Kropka (New London). Kropka finished in 19th place overall, earning All-HCAC Honorable Mention! Coming in second for the Beavers was Alex Montross (Perrysburg) with a time of 28:51, finishing in 55th overall. Closely behind Montross was junior Braeden Horn, just four seconds behind with a time of 28:55 and 59th overall.

Freshman Grant Beasley (Versailles) finished a great race in 4th for the Beavers with a time of 30:01. Following Beasley and earning a season best was senior Ethan Ly (Celina), finishing with a time of 30:04. His teammate and fellow senior, Zach Boch (Lancaster), also raced a season-best time, finishing just three seconds behind Ly with a time of 30:07! Freshman Chandler McCafferty set a new PR on Saturday, finishing the race with a time of 30:28! Also setting a new PR was junior Aiden Brien (Springfield/Kenton Ridge), flying across the line and finishing the race with a time of 31:11. Freshman Micah Dodson (Wooster/Central Christian) had what Coach Connor Gulick considered to be a 'breakout race' dropping over a minute in time compared to his previous PR! Dodson's new PR is 31:19!

In the women's 6k Race, junior Basil Gates (Galion) finished a stellar race in 13th place, earning the All-HCAC honor with a season-best time of 25:01! Following closely behind Gates with a time of 25:13 was freshman McKenna Mabry (Ventura, Cal./Buena)! Mabry also ran what Coach Gulick referred to as a 'breakout race' as she dropped over a minute off of her previous PR and finished in 15th place overall, earning All-HCAC Honorable Mention!

Finishing in 33rd place with a season-best time of 26:45 was junior Sammie Unger (Kenton)! Closely behind Unger was her teammate, senior Jenia Freewalt (Delphos/St. John's), finishing the race in 36th place with a time of 27:05! Senior Brooke Barnes came in 5th overall for the Beavers, crossing the line with a time of 29:40.

"I thought we competed well," said Head Coach Connor Gulick. "We went in with the mindset that place was all that mattered, and everyone took that to heart. There were a lot of breakout performances and they were constantly putting people behind them. I could not be more proud of this group and excited to see how we close out the year at regionals."

With heads held high after the conference performance, the Beavers are optimistic for quick times and a good showing at the NCAA Regional Championship when they travel to Silver Creek Park in Norton, Ohio, on Saturday, Nov. 11!

-BEAVERS-