TicketsCINCINNATI - Aaron Bienenfeld captured his second race victory in as many tries this season while the University of Cincinnati women's cross country team turned in several record performances as the Bearcats competed well Saturday at the 2019 Under Armour NCAA Pre-National Invitational. The meet, which was conducted on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., is the same that will be used next month for the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
// TEAM STANDINGS
Both teams fared well in the 'white' race with the men placing ninth among 20 teams and the women 13th among 26. The women opened the day scoring 331 points to finish 13th, marking the best finish at the pre-national event in program history, surpassing the 15th-place showing the 2012 team recorded. Arizona won the team title with 121 points and was followed in the Top 5 by Iona (187), Nebraska (220), UTEP (227) and Northwestern (237).
On the men's side, the Bearcats scored 225 points and placed ninth, marking just the second time in program history UC has finished in the Top 10 of the pre-national meet (third in 2016). IUPUI won the team title with 140 points and was followed in the Top 5 by Ohio (146), San Francisco (170), Georgia (181) and Vanderbilt (182).
// RECAP • WOMEN WHITE
Lauren Kemper, in just her second race for the Bearcats, led the charge as she finished 27th overall in a personal-best time of 21:49.6. Historically for the program, her placement is the second-best all-time behind Ruth Limo's 10th-place showing in 2002 and is just the sixth different UC woman to run under 21:50 for 6,000m when the meet is held in Terre Haute.
Kemper was followed across the line by Hannah Markel (22:10.0), Maddie Walker (22:41.2), Olivia Tyre (23:03.6) and Rylee Penn (23:13.2), who placed 41st, 66th, 91st and 106th, respectively, to round out the five scoring positions for UC. Two other Bearcats ran in the race as well with Sam Mikula running 23:34.5 (125th) and Ellie Leather stepping off the course for a did not finish.
// RECAP • MEN WHITE
Bienenfeld continues to be one of the top runners in the American Athletic Conference as was evident today. Not only did he win his second race in as many tries this year, he ran away with the title as he won by 41.9 seconds, crossing the finish line in 24:04.5. The individual winner at the Rhodes Invitational (the same course used for this year's AAC meet in two weeks), Bienenfeld is the first Bearcats runner to win two or more races in the same season since Eric Finan won four events during the 2011 season (Queen City Invitational, Commodore Classic, All-Ohio Championships and Big East Championships). Additionally, Bienenfeld's finish betters the third-place showing Finan posted in 2011 with Finan's time (24:04.0) just edging Bienenfeld for the best at the pre-national meet in Terre Haute.
Toni Banos was second across the line for UC as he ran 25:41.9 to finish 27th, missing his personal-best by just under three seconds. The Top 5 scorers for the Bearcats were rounded out by Ryan Guenthner (25:47.7), Tyler Wirth (26:18.2) and Matt Hoak (27:27.7), who placed 35th, 63rd and 106th, respectively. Also running for the Bearcats were Matt Stump (28:46.0) and Keifer Mosmeier (29:03.0), who placed 124th and 127th, respectively.
// RECAP • WOMEN OPEN
Five women took part in the open race - a non-team scoring event - with Katrina Patterson leading the way in 39th place at 22:49.3. Also racing were Ellee Bullock (23:16.1) in 48th; Leah Maschino (24:02.3) in 81st; Katie Engle (24:02.7) in 82nd and Sydney Hess (24:07.9) in 85th.
// RECAP • MEN OPEN
Four men ran in the open race with Christian Stevens leading the way as he placed 66th overall in 26:36.1. Also running for the Bearcats were Jonathan Harley (27:02.6), Jase Headings (27:17.3) and Ryan Pehlman (27:41.0), who finished 84th, 93rd and 108th, respectively.
// NEXT MEET
The Bearcats will be back in action Friday, November 1, when they return to the Shelby Farms Course in Memphis, Tenn., to compete in the 2019 AAC Championships.
2019 Under Armour NCAA Pre-National Invitational
LaVern Gibson Championship Course • Terre Haute, Ind.
Race #3 • Team Results • Women's 6,000m • White Race
1. Arizona • 121
2. Iona • 187
3. Nebraska • 220
4. UTEP • 227
5. Northwestern 237
6. Delaware • 249
7. Eastern Kentucky • 260
8. Louisville • 261
9. South Dakota State • 273
10. San Francisco • 294
13. CINCINNATI • 331
26 teams scored
Individual Results • Women's 6,000m • White Race
27. Lauren Kemper • 21:49.6 • PR
41. Hannah Markel • 22:10.1
66. Maddie Walker • 22:41.1
91. Olivia Tyre • 23:03.6
106. Rylee Penn • 23:13.2
125. Sam Mikula • 23:34.5
-- Ellie Leather • did not finish
169 runners finished
Race #4 • Team Results • Men's 8,000m • White Race
1. IUPUI • 140
2. Ohio • 146
3. San Francisco • 170
4. Georgia • 181
5. Vanderbilt • 182
6. Oakland • 198
7. Central Michigan • 200
8. Norfolk State • 216
9. CINCINNATI • 225
10. Milwaukee • 234
20 teams scored
Individual Results • Men's 8,000m • White Race
1. Aaron Bienenfeld • 24:04.5
27. Toni Banos • 25:41.9
35. Ryan Guenthner • 25:47.7
63. Tyler Wirth • 26:18.2
106. Matt Hoak • 27:27.7
124. Matt Stump • 28:46.9
127. Keifer Mosmeier • 29:03.0
130 runners finished
Race #5 • Women's 6,000m • Open Race
no team scoring
Individual Results • Women's 6,000m • Open Race
39. Katrina Patterson • 22:49.3
48. Ellee Bullock • 23:16.1
81. Leah Maschino • 24:02.3
82. Katie Engle • 24:02.7
85. Sydney Hess • 24:07.9
110 runners finished
Race #6 • Men's 8,000m • Open Race
no team scoring
Individual Results • Men's 8,000m • Open Race
66. Christian Stevens • 26:36.1
84. Jonathan Harley • 27:02.6
93. Jase Headings • 27:17.3
108. Ryan Pehlman • 27:41.0
120 runners finished