TicketsOct. 7, 2005
DELAWARE, Ohio - The University of Cincinnati cross country teams each placed in the top five at the All-Ohio Championships on Friday at the Methodist Theological School. The women placed third, while the men took fourth place in the battle to be the top team in the state.
The women's squad continued their dominance of in-state competition. The Bearcats placed third over local rivals Bowling Green State University and Miami (Ohio), who took fourth and fifth, respectively. Leading the 41-team field were the 2005 champions, the University in Akron and the Ohio State University in second.
Senior Karen Berling again led the Bearcats finishing in 14th place in a time of 18:56. Cincinnati's other four scorers ran in packs. Junior Cristy Doll (19:15) and sophomore Nichole Leslie (19:19) finished 22nd and 25th, respectively. Freshmen Megan Knapp and Ellen Knopf rounded out the top-five Bearcats, placing 33rd and 35th overall.
Akron's Beata Rudzinska took the individual title in 17:50.
The Cincinnati men bounced back from some early season disappointments to take fourth place in the field of 41 teams. They defended their loss to Kent State University at the Miami Invitational on Sept. 10 by defeating them by 27 points. Ohio State University, which won the team title, and Ohio University were the only two Division I teams to beat the Bearcats.
Sophomore John Dixon reclaimed his spot at the top Bearcat finisher by placing seventh overall in a time of 26:12. Junior Kevin Schwarz returned to the top of the men's lineup, finishing two seconds later in eighth place. Completing the scoring for UC were juniors Taylor Garvin (26:37) and David Adams (27:02), and freshman Rick King (27:03).
Mike Sawicki of Otterbein College earned the men's victory in a time of 25:46.
The Bearcats will race next in Terre Haute, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 15 for the Pre-National Championships.
Top Cincinnati Finishers (Women)
14. Karen Berling.....18:56
22. Cristy Doll.........19:15
25. Nichole Leslie....19:19
33. Megan Knapp.......19:24
34. Ellen Knopf.........19:25
Top Cincinnati Finishers (Men)
7. John Dixon..........26:12
8. Kevin Schwarz.....26:14
17. Taylor Garvin.......26:37
39. David Adams.........27:02
41. Rick King.............27:03