TicketsOXFORD, Ohio— Graduate student Tyler Wirth won the men's 6k at the RedHawk Rumble as the University of Cincinnati men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2023 season on Friday.
Wirth led the way for Bearcats on the Miami University Cross Country Course as he claimed the men's individual title with a personal-best time of 18:01.51. The Hawley, Pa., native held a blistering mile pace of 4:50 to achieve the feat. This marks Wirth's first individual career cross country race win.
"It was a really encouraging start to the season," men's cross country coach Lucas Rothenberger said. "You never know with the first meet of the year if you are going to be able to translate all the training to racing, but today was really encouraging."
The men's team placed all five scorers inside the top-10 for a total of 22 points to win the meet. The first-place team finish marks the best in the program's history at the Redhawk Rumble.
Sophomore Seth Elking also placed inside the top-five with a time of 18:12.37.
The next three Bearcats to complete the course all finished within two seconds of each other. Sophomore Bobby Ganser placed sixth overall with a time of 18:13.78, while newcomer graduate transfer Jed Helker made his first appearance as a Bearcat, crossing at the 18:14.97 mark for seventh. Graduate student Matt Hoak recorded a time of 18:15.13 to place eighth and round out the men's card.
Sophomore Claire Curtsinger led the women's team to a second-place finish with 49 points. Curtsinger placed seventh overall with a time of 17:59.01 in the women's 5K. This marks the first time in her career she has been the Bearcats' top finisher at a meet.
"It was a solid opener," women's cross country coach Sarah Anderson said. "We have a young group so we have a lot of learning left to do when it comes to our racing, but as a whole I was pleased."
In total, three UC women placed inside the top-10, graduate student Maddie Walker finished eighth overall with a time of 18:09.0 and making her Bearcat debut, freshman Savannah Dennison placed 10th overall with a time of 18:22.60.
Sophomore Gwen Stare was the next Bearcat to cross the finish line as she placed 11th overall with a time of 18:35.36. Classmate Emmy Sager rounded out the women's scorers as she recorded a time of 18:54.81, finishing 13th overall.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will head north to Minneapolis, Minn., to compete at the Roy Griak Invitational. The meet is scheduled for Friday Sept. 22 and will begin at 11 a.m. ET.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Wirth led the way for Bearcats on the Miami University Cross Country Course as he claimed the men's individual title with a personal-best time of 18:01.51. The Hawley, Pa., native held a blistering mile pace of 4:50 to achieve the feat. This marks Wirth's first individual career cross country race win.
"It was a really encouraging start to the season," men's cross country coach Lucas Rothenberger said. "You never know with the first meet of the year if you are going to be able to translate all the training to racing, but today was really encouraging."
The men's team placed all five scorers inside the top-10 for a total of 22 points to win the meet. The first-place team finish marks the best in the program's history at the Redhawk Rumble.
Sophomore Seth Elking also placed inside the top-five with a time of 18:12.37.
The next three Bearcats to complete the course all finished within two seconds of each other. Sophomore Bobby Ganser placed sixth overall with a time of 18:13.78, while newcomer graduate transfer Jed Helker made his first appearance as a Bearcat, crossing at the 18:14.97 mark for seventh. Graduate student Matt Hoak recorded a time of 18:15.13 to place eighth and round out the men's card.
Sophomore Claire Curtsinger led the women's team to a second-place finish with 49 points. Curtsinger placed seventh overall with a time of 17:59.01 in the women's 5K. This marks the first time in her career she has been the Bearcats' top finisher at a meet.
"It was a solid opener," women's cross country coach Sarah Anderson said. "We have a young group so we have a lot of learning left to do when it comes to our racing, but as a whole I was pleased."
In total, three UC women placed inside the top-10, graduate student Maddie Walker finished eighth overall with a time of 18:09.0 and making her Bearcat debut, freshman Savannah Dennison placed 10th overall with a time of 18:22.60.
Sophomore Gwen Stare was the next Bearcat to cross the finish line as she placed 11th overall with a time of 18:35.36. Classmate Emmy Sager rounded out the women's scorers as she recorded a time of 18:54.81, finishing 13th overall.
// UP NEXT
The Bearcats will head north to Minneapolis, Minn., to compete at the Roy Griak Invitational. The meet is scheduled for Friday Sept. 22 and will begin at 11 a.m. ET.
// FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati Track and Field/Cross Country, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. and follow @GoBearcatsTFXC on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.