Bearcat Women Earn Second Title

Bearcat Women Earn Second TitleBearcat Women Earn Second Title

Sept. 10, 2005

Complete Results

OXFORD, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati women's cross country team took first place for the second consecutive meet at the Miami Invitational this Saturday. They won their first meet of the season last week at Dayton's Flyer 5K Challenge. Leading the team again in Oxford was senior Karen Berling as the Bearcats topped Eastern Kentucky University by two points. The men's squad finished a disappointing fourth place in a tough field of seven teams.

The Bearcat women took the title for the first time since the meet began in 1985 by scoring 54 points. Eastern Kentucky followed close behind with 56 points and Malone College finished third as a team (67 points).

Berling's fourth place finish (18:49) put UC in good position for the victory, but it was the team's fourth and fifth scorers that pushed them over the top. "It was an excellent meet. We won as a pack today," according to head coach Bill Schnier. "After the third runner today we were in third place, so we really depended heavily on our fourth and fifth runners. They really excelled today and I was so happy with them." Junior Cristy Doll finished 13th in 19:20 and freshman Justine Yauch, who placed 19th in a time of 19:34, ensured success. Also scoring for the women were freshman Ellen Knopf in seventh (19:05) and sophomore Nichole Leslie in 11th place overall (19:15).

Kent State University's Molly Hammer earned the individual win, completing the 5K course in 18:29.

After starting the season successfully with a second-place team finish in Dayton last weekend, the UC men's team struggled to finish fourth (87 points). Kent State (42 points) took the men's team title, followed by Miami with 44 points and Malone with 66.

The Bearcats' top finishers were sophomore John Dixon and junior Taylor Garvin who finished within just tenths of a second of each other. Coach Schnier was pleased with Dixon and Garvin's third and fourth place finishes. "John and Taylor did exceptionally well." Both Dixon and Garvin finished the 8K Western Campus Course in a time of 25:47.

Rounding out the scoring for the Bearcat men were junior Eric Mayhaus in 25th (26:38), freshman Rick King in 30th (27:02), and sophomore Scott Mindel in 31st place (27:05.).

For the second consecutive week, Miami's Chris Swisher took the individual title in 25:25.

The University of Cincinnati will be in action again on Friday, Sept. 16 for the Queen City Invitational at Mt. Airy Forest. The meet is the Bearcats' only home competition of the season. The first race is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Top Cincinnati Finishers (Women)

4. Karen Berling......18:49

7. Ellen Knopf........19:05

11. Nichole Leslie...19:15

13. Cristy Doll........19:20

19. Justine Yauch....19:34

Top Cincinnati Finishers (Men)

3. John Dixon........25:47.3

4. Taylor Garvin.....25:27.9

25. Eric Mayhaus....26:38

30. Rick King........27:02

31. Scott Mindel.....27:05