TicketsCINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati cross country teams took part in the 2017 NCAA Division I Pre-National Invitational Saturday morning at E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky., with the Bearcats not only battling teams from all across the nation, but also unseasonably hot weather that saw temperatures climb into the mid- to high-80's. Both teams competed in the unseeded (black) races on the course that will be used for the 2017 NCAA Championships later this season.
The men were led by Nick Grismer, who finished 71st overall in the 8,000m race to lead the Bearcats for the second meet in a row. On the women's side, true freshman Sam Mikula took top honors for the Bearcats as she crossed the finish line of the 6,000m race in 84th.
// TEAM STANDINGS
The men, racing against 24 other scoring teams, scored 320 points to place 13th overall while the women, one of 29 scoring squads, placed 20th overall with 518 points. The men's Top 5 was populated by Ohio State (103), BYU (112), Oregon (117), Virginia Tech (169) and Bowling Green (215) while the women's Top 5 standings contained winner Nevada (62), BYU (96), Michigan (170), Arkansas (173) and Ohio (219). Both Bearcats teams also finished ahead of fellow American Athletic Conference teams with the men placing ahead of Tulane (15th) and the women just edging out Houston (21st).
// MEN'S 8,000m BLACK (UNSEEDED)
The men opened up the day for the Bearcats with 11 individuals starting the race, four of which recorded the fastest 8,000m times of their careers. Grismer, who was the top finisher at the All-Ohio Championships for UC with a time of 25:36.4, battled the heat to run 25:30.7 and finish 71st overall to lead a group of Bearcats across the line. Just behind Grismer were freshman Ryan Guenthner, who placed 77th in 25:36.1, and Dan Huben, who was 78th in 25:36.6. The five scorers for the team were rounded out by Seamus Collins, who was 87th in 25:43.2, and Michael Vitucci, who ran a personal-best 25:53.8 to place 103rd.
Steven Zombory improved his best time at this distance by running 26:28.7 to finished 149th overall while Branden Nosker finished 156th in 26:45.1. Also racing for the Bearcats were Frank Pierce (27:04.1) in 179th; Jake Barnes (27:17.2) in 192nd; and Matt Stump (27:22.0) in 193rd. Spencer Clark also started the race, but was unable to finish.
// WOMEN'S 6,000m BLACK (UNSEEDED)
On the women's side, true freshman Mikula was the top finisher for the Bearcats as she covered the 6,000m course in a personal-best time 22:30.9 to finish 84th overall, edging out teammate Madison Dunlap for top honors as the senior finished 86th overall in 22:31.4. For Mikula, the top finish marked the first time she has led the way for the team this year and makes her the fourth different woman to lead the team in the five races run. Mikula and Dunlap were joined in the team's Top 5 scoring positions by Hannah Markel, who ran a personal-best 22:53.7 to finish 123rd; Tessa Ward, who was 137th in 23:03.4; and Lianne Masquelier, who was 175th in 23:29.8.
Meg Westerheide was 199th in 23:52.7 to lead the remaining runners. She was followed by Grace O'Donnell (24:07.4) in 213th; Emma Hensley (24:18.3), who finished 222nd in her season debut; Sammy Hentz (25:13.8) in 245th; Sydney Hess (25:20.6) in 248th; and Cassidy Carey (25:56.1) in 254th. Samantha Simms began the race, but was unable to complete the course.
// NEXT UP
The championship season gets underway the next time out as the Bearcats will compete in the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championships at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pa., Saturday, October 28. The meet will be hosted by Temple and will feature a men's 8,000m race at 10 a.m. and a women's 6,000m race at 10:50 a.m.
2017 NCAA DIVISION I PRE-NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park • Louisville, Ky.
Race #3 • Men's 8,000m Black (Unseeded)
Overall Team Standings - Top 5 (of 24 teams):
1. Ohio State - 103
2. BYU - 112
3. Oregon - 117
4. Virginia Tech - 169
5. Bowling Green - 215
13. CINCINNATI - 320
Overall Individual Results:
71. Nick Grismer - 25:30.7 - PR
77. Ryan Guenthner - 25:36.1 - PR
78. Dan Huben - 25:36.6
87. Seamus Collins - 25:43.2
103. Michael Vitucci - 25:53.8 - PR
149. Steven Zombory - 26:28.7 - PR
156. Branden Nosker - 26:45.1
179. Frank Pierce - 27:04.1
192. Jake Barnes - 27:17.2
193. Matt Stump - 27:22.0
DNF - Spencer Clark
213 finishers
Race #4 • Women's 6,000m Black (Unseeded)
Overall Team Standings - Top 5 (of 29 teams):
1. Nevada - 62
2. BYU - 96
3. Michigan - 170
4. Arkansas - 173
5. Ohio - 219
20. CINCINNATI - 518
Overall Individual Results:
84. Sam Mikula - 22:30.9 - PR
86. Madison Dunlap - 22:31.4
123. Hannah Markel - 22:53.7 - PR
137. Tessa Ward - 23:03.4
175. Lianne Masquelier - 23:29.8
199. Meg Westerheide - 23:52.7
213. Grace O'Donnell - 24:07.4
222. Emma Hensley - 24:18.3
245. Sammy Hentz - 25:13.8
248. Sydney Hess - 25:20.6
254. Cassidy Carey - 25:56.1
DNF - Samantha Simms
259 finishers
The men were led by Nick Grismer, who finished 71st overall in the 8,000m race to lead the Bearcats for the second meet in a row. On the women's side, true freshman Sam Mikula took top honors for the Bearcats as she crossed the finish line of the 6,000m race in 84th.
// TEAM STANDINGS
The men, racing against 24 other scoring teams, scored 320 points to place 13th overall while the women, one of 29 scoring squads, placed 20th overall with 518 points. The men's Top 5 was populated by Ohio State (103), BYU (112), Oregon (117), Virginia Tech (169) and Bowling Green (215) while the women's Top 5 standings contained winner Nevada (62), BYU (96), Michigan (170), Arkansas (173) and Ohio (219). Both Bearcats teams also finished ahead of fellow American Athletic Conference teams with the men placing ahead of Tulane (15th) and the women just edging out Houston (21st).
// MEN'S 8,000m BLACK (UNSEEDED)
The men opened up the day for the Bearcats with 11 individuals starting the race, four of which recorded the fastest 8,000m times of their careers. Grismer, who was the top finisher at the All-Ohio Championships for UC with a time of 25:36.4, battled the heat to run 25:30.7 and finish 71st overall to lead a group of Bearcats across the line. Just behind Grismer were freshman Ryan Guenthner, who placed 77th in 25:36.1, and Dan Huben, who was 78th in 25:36.6. The five scorers for the team were rounded out by Seamus Collins, who was 87th in 25:43.2, and Michael Vitucci, who ran a personal-best 25:53.8 to place 103rd.
Steven Zombory improved his best time at this distance by running 26:28.7 to finished 149th overall while Branden Nosker finished 156th in 26:45.1. Also racing for the Bearcats were Frank Pierce (27:04.1) in 179th; Jake Barnes (27:17.2) in 192nd; and Matt Stump (27:22.0) in 193rd. Spencer Clark also started the race, but was unable to finish.
// WOMEN'S 6,000m BLACK (UNSEEDED)
On the women's side, true freshman Mikula was the top finisher for the Bearcats as she covered the 6,000m course in a personal-best time 22:30.9 to finish 84th overall, edging out teammate Madison Dunlap for top honors as the senior finished 86th overall in 22:31.4. For Mikula, the top finish marked the first time she has led the way for the team this year and makes her the fourth different woman to lead the team in the five races run. Mikula and Dunlap were joined in the team's Top 5 scoring positions by Hannah Markel, who ran a personal-best 22:53.7 to finish 123rd; Tessa Ward, who was 137th in 23:03.4; and Lianne Masquelier, who was 175th in 23:29.8.
Meg Westerheide was 199th in 23:52.7 to lead the remaining runners. She was followed by Grace O'Donnell (24:07.4) in 213th; Emma Hensley (24:18.3), who finished 222nd in her season debut; Sammy Hentz (25:13.8) in 245th; Sydney Hess (25:20.6) in 248th; and Cassidy Carey (25:56.1) in 254th. Samantha Simms began the race, but was unable to complete the course.
// NEXT UP
The championship season gets underway the next time out as the Bearcats will compete in the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championships at Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia, Pa., Saturday, October 28. The meet will be hosted by Temple and will feature a men's 8,000m race at 10 a.m. and a women's 6,000m race at 10:50 a.m.
2017 NCAA DIVISION I PRE-NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park • Louisville, Ky.
Race #3 • Men's 8,000m Black (Unseeded)
Overall Team Standings - Top 5 (of 24 teams):
1. Ohio State - 103
2. BYU - 112
3. Oregon - 117
4. Virginia Tech - 169
5. Bowling Green - 215
13. CINCINNATI - 320
Overall Individual Results:
71. Nick Grismer - 25:30.7 - PR
77. Ryan Guenthner - 25:36.1 - PR
78. Dan Huben - 25:36.6
87. Seamus Collins - 25:43.2
103. Michael Vitucci - 25:53.8 - PR
149. Steven Zombory - 26:28.7 - PR
156. Branden Nosker - 26:45.1
179. Frank Pierce - 27:04.1
192. Jake Barnes - 27:17.2
193. Matt Stump - 27:22.0
DNF - Spencer Clark
213 finishers
Race #4 • Women's 6,000m Black (Unseeded)
Overall Team Standings - Top 5 (of 29 teams):
1. Nevada - 62
2. BYU - 96
3. Michigan - 170
4. Arkansas - 173
5. Ohio - 219
20. CINCINNATI - 518
Overall Individual Results:
84. Sam Mikula - 22:30.9 - PR
86. Madison Dunlap - 22:31.4
123. Hannah Markel - 22:53.7 - PR
137. Tessa Ward - 23:03.4
175. Lianne Masquelier - 23:29.8
199. Meg Westerheide - 23:52.7
213. Grace O'Donnell - 24:07.4
222. Emma Hensley - 24:18.3
245. Sammy Hentz - 25:13.8
248. Sydney Hess - 25:20.6
254. Cassidy Carey - 25:56.1
DNF - Samantha Simms
259 finishers