TicketsAMES, Iowa— Graduate Students Tyler Wirth and Maddie Walker led the University of Cincinnati men's and women's cross country program at the 2023 Big 12 Cross Country Championships on Saturday at the Iowa State Cross Country Course.
In the program's inaugural Big 12 Cross Country Championship appearance, the UC men finished seventh with 204 points, while the women placed 10th overall with 243 points.
Wirth led the UC men just like he has done all season long, as he was the first Bearcat to cross the finish line for the third straight meet. The three-time AAC-All conference honoree fell just short of earning his fourth career all-conference accolade as he finished 24th with a time of 23:37.0.
Following Wirth was freshman Thomas Ashby, who crossed the finish with a time of 24:29.2 in his first career conference championship race. Ashby finished 48th overall.
The duo of sophomore Seth Elking and graduate student Matt Hoak completed the course within three seconds of each other. Elking finished with a time of 24:30.4 (50th) and Hoak climbed 22 spots from the 3k to 5k mark to finish 52nd overall with a time of 24:33.8
Rounding out the scorers was freshman Isaac Schachleiter who placed 58th overall with time of 24:38.6. This was the first time in his career he has finished as one of UC's top-five finishers.
As usual, Walker was the first Bearcat to cross the finish line in the women's 6k. The three-time AAC All-Conference honoree recorded a time of 20:52.3 and placed 34th overall.
Sophomore Claire Curtsinger was keeping pace with Walker for the majority of the race as she clocked a time of 21:18.9 and placed 46th overall in her first conference championship race.
Next to cross the finish line was sophomore Gwen Stare who recorded a time of 21:44.0 earning her 61st overall.
Rounding out the women's scorers was the freshman duo of Jocelyn Willis and Amber Carter. Willis finished with a time of 22:06.1 (69th) and Carter logged a time of 22:12.8 (74th).
// UP NEXT
Cincinnati will continue its post-season journey by heading to Madison, Wis., for the 2023 NCAA Great Lakes Cross Country Regional on Saturday, Nov. 11. More information about the region can be found here.
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// CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Men's 8K: Team- 7th, (204 points)
Name, Time (Place)
Tyler Wirth, 23:37.0 (24th)
Thomas Ashby, 24:29.2 (48th)
Seth Elking, 24:30.4 (50th)
Matt Hoak, 24:33.8 (52nd)
Isaac Schachleiter, 24:38.6 (58th)
Gianni Allwein, 24:55.1 (66th)
Ryan Pehlman, 24:58.1 (67th)
Bobby Ganser, 25:00.1 (69th)
Collin Stevens, 25:30.0 (80th)
Wyatt Houchens, 25:50.2 (93rd)
Women's 6K: Team- 10th, (243 points)
Name, Time (Place)
Maddie Walker, 20:52.3 (34th)
Claire Curtsinger, 21:18.9 (46th)
Gwen Stare, 21:44.0 (61st)
Jocelyn Willis, 22:06.1 (69th)
Amber Carter, 22:12.8 (74th)
Sarah Madix, 22:16.5 (78th)
Elena Horn, 22:22.7 (81st)
Camella Henning, 22:26.3 (86th)
Lauren Greiwe, 22:38.3 (94th)