Markel, Women’s Team Win Titles at Friendship Invite

CINCINNATI - Behind a 1-2 individual finish led by Hannah Markel's race victory, the University of Cincinnati women's cross country team captured the team title at the 29th Friendship Invitational Saturday morning in Cedarville, Ohio, as the Bearcats beat 12 other teams for the crown in the 5,000m competition held on the Elvin R. King XC Course. Markel and Ellie Leather grabbed the Top 2 spots in the standings as the Bearcats placed three in the Top 10 and seven in the Top 20 on the day.

// TEAM RESULTS
The Bearcats scored 40 points to win the team title for the first time in the history of the event that began in 1991, bettering runner-up and host Cedarville by 20 points. Northern Kentucky (96), Cedarville Alumni (102) and Ohio (138) rounded out the Top 5 teams in the standings. In all, 13 teams scored in the meet with several other schools represented as well.

// RECAP • WOMEN
Markel led a 1-2 punch up front and she won her first individual race as a collegiate runner, crossing the finish line in 17:32.5 with teammate Leather just off her pace at 17:38.1 to take second. The duo were well ahead of the field as the third-place finisher came in at 17:55.4, more than 20 seconds off the pace. Freshman Maddie Walker also finished in the Top 10 as she finished seventh overall in 18:16.6 to give UC three in the Top 7 on the day.

Rylee Penn, making her cross country debut for the Bearcats, was fourth on the team and 14th overall as she ran 18:47.4 while Syndey Hess rounded out the five scoring positions in 16th place at 18:51.5. The remainder of the team's Top 7 was rounded out by two more Top 20 finishers, including Olivia Tyre (19:04.0) and Leah Maschino (19:07.7), who placed 19th and 20th, respectively. The race for Maschino was her first cross country run as a member of the program. Four other Bearcats raced on the day as well with Ellee Bullock leading the group with a 34th-place finish in 19:36.3. Also racing were Madalyn O'Dea (19:40.2, 37th), Katie Engle (19:43.3, 38th) and Anna Evans (20:11.8, 53rd).

// BEEN A WHILE
While research continues on the subject, it is believed the last time a UC woman won a cross country race came in 2010. That year, Michelle McKenney won the Queen City Invitational by running 18:04.0.

// GETTING FASTER
Three of the Bearcats in the race turned in personal best times and all three came by over 23 seconds. Markel had the biggest improvement as she dropped 32.2 seconds off her lifetime best that was 18:04.7. Leather also had a big improvement as she ran 26.6 seconds better than her time of 18:04.7 that she ran two weeks ago at the Queen City Invitational. Lastly, Hess was able to take 23.8 seconds off her previous best of 19:15.3 that she also ran last time at the Queen City Invitational.

// NEXT MEET
The women, along with the men, will be back in action next week in Memphis, Tenn., as the Bearcats will travel to the Rhodes College Invitational on Saturday, September 21. The course being used will be the same utilized later this season for the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championships.

29th Friendship Invitational
Elvin R. King XC Course • Cedarville, Ohio
Team Results • Women's 5,000m
1. CINCINNATI • 40
2. Cedarville • 60
3. Northern Kentucky • 96
4. Cedarville Alumni • 102
5. Ohio • 138
6. Cumberlands • 170
7. Dayton • 188
8. Cumberland (TN) • 221
9. UC Running Club • 230
10. Miami Running Club • 249
11. Eastern Mennonite • 274
12. Cincinnati Christian • 349
13. Central State • 400

Individual Results • Women's 5,000m
1. Hannah Markel • 17:32.5 • PR
2. Ellie Leather • 17:38.1 • PR
7. Maddie Walker • 18:16.6
14. Rylee Penn • 18:47.4
16. Sydney Hess • 18:51.5 • PR
19. Olivia Tyre • 19:04.0
20. Leah Maschino • 19:07.7
34. Ellee Bullock • 19:36.3
37. Madalyn O'Dea • 19:40.2
38. Katie Engle • 19:43.3
53. Anna Evans • 20:11.8
116 runners finished