TicketsCINCINNATI – The University of Cincinnati cross country teams spent their Friday in South Bend, Indiana competing at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. Both teams had a great showing with entries in the meet's Gold Division and Open Division.
The men's team placed 3rd of the 21 teams in the Men's Gold Division 5-mile event. The women's team placed 8th of 24 in the Women's Gold Division 5k. CBU won both titles.
Alec Sandusky won his second race of the season for UC in the men's Gold Division 5 mile with a time of 25:03.2. Ellie Leather was the top finisher for the women in the Gold Division 5k event, placing 4th with a time of 17:24.9.
Men's head coach, Lucas Rothenberger, was ""Super proud of the toughness this group showed. Matt Hoak ran very smart and competed well in the open race, and that set the tone for the group. We competed well in the Gold race. It was very hot by the time our group toe'd the start line, but we did a solid job of executing our race plan. We knew we were without Jon Harley, so we needed some other guys to step up and I really feel like they did a good job. We have plenty of things to clean up, but we have a month to grow as a group and continue to round into shape. We will stay the course and good things will come in the future."
Lara Rogers, women's head coach, said, "We gained some confidence today. Despite the pretty warm conditions I thought we executed the race well and managed to hit the goal we had for this. We are missing a couple key members but once we are back to full strength we'll be where we need to. Individually I thought Ellie Leather ran a nice race. She mixed it up with some of the best runners in the nation and she's just starting to round into the runner she wants to be. We also had great races from Maddie Walker and Sam Mikula. Walker was patient after a quick start and moved up really well through the field to be a solid #2 for us, finishing 16th. Sam has been progressing really well week to week. She came in clutch again as our #4 runner.
If we continue this trajectory we'll be in a really good spot for the postseason."
Alec Sandusky is 2 for 2 in first place finishes this season after winning the Gold Division at the Notre Dame Invite in 24:17.2 ‼️ pic.twitter.com/ejEL0aYm2o
— Cincinnati TF & XC (@GoBearcatsTFXC) October 1, 2021
MEN'S RACE
Following Sandusky, the rest of the UC men's squad had great races as well. Also finishing with quick times toward the front of the pack in the men's 5 mile were Tyler Wirth, with a time of 25:01.1, finishing 15th, Toni Baños in 20th with a time of 25:10.1, and Julius Hild in 26th with a time of 25:14.2.
WOMEN'S RACE
Leather ran a great race, recording a faster 5k than her previous this season at the Butler Twilight Invite. (17:51.00) Next for the Bearcats was Maddie Walker, finishing with a time of 17:45.6, which earned her 16th place.
A great race today in South Bend for Ellie Leather, who finished 4th with a time of 17:24.9 at the Notre Dame Invite ❗️ pic.twitter.com/3WXBPcUq8c
— Cincinnati TF & XC (@GoBearcatsTFXC) October 1, 2021
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RESULTS
Our Notre Dame Invite results are here - great races from both our teams today in South Bend #gobearcatstfxc pic.twitter.com/tTbfavNDnI
— Cincinnati TF & XC (@GoBearcatsTFXC) October 1, 2021
Women's Gold Division 5k Results
4. Ellie Leather – 17:24.9
16. Maddie Walker – 17:45.6
54. Carmela Henning – 18:31.7
67. Sam Mikula – 18:39.4
114. Maggie Breitenstein – 19:09.2
Women's Open Division 5k Results
79. Jen Cooper – 19:15.6
114. Katie Engle – 19:45.8
148. Anna Evans – 21:01.8
Men's Gold Division 5-mile Results
1. Alec Sandusky – 24:17.2
15. Tyler Wirth – 25:01.1
20. Toni Baños – 25:10.1
26. Julius Hild – 25:14.2
60. Christian Stevens – 25:58.5
72. Jack Barchet – 26:19.0
96. Ryan Pehlman – 26:44.4
Men's Open Division 5-mile Results
31. Matt Hoak – 25:53.8
79. Siro Pina Cardona – 27:09.0