The Ashland University men and women’s cross-country teams took on the annual All-Ohio Intercollegiate Classic at Cedarville on Friday Sept. 20. 

This meet marked the first meet in which both teams ran farther distances than previous meets. A 6k women’s race and an 8k men’s race.  Although this was a farther distance than the previous meets, both teams used it as a learning experience. 

“It’s our first race of the year that’s at distance. Our first race of the year was kind of shorter distances than a normal cross meet,” Head Cross Country Coach Jacob Sussman said.  “To go into it with a relaxed mindset and use it as a learning steppingstone to our future meets.” 

Despite not having their top competitors, the men’s team pulled out of ninth place finish out of 26 teams. 

“On the men’s side we didn’t race our top two guys, so finishing ninth was fantastic. We still got some things to work on there” Sussman said.  

The men were awarded the following placings within the 26-minute mark: Juniors Nate Slater placing 25th with a time of 26:06.6, Michael Snopik placing 31st with a time of 26:15.9, and fifth-year Konnor Ray placing 83rd with a time of 26:55.6. 

Following the 26-minute mark were Sophomore Huck Finnegan placing 144th with a time of 27:43.7 and Junior Daylen Madison placing 146th with a time of 27:44.5. 

On the women’s side, they were able to place 12th out of 25 teams for the meet. 

Senior Lily Dowdell led the women’s team, crossing the finish line with a personal record of 22:58.3 and bringing home a ninth-place finish.  

Other women’s finishers consisted of Sophomore Molly Coleman placing 61st with a time of 24:43.5 – a personal record. 

Then, on the 25-minute mark Sophomore Lauren Bero placed 92nd with a time of 25:25.7 and Junior Brenna Heinzerling finishing 117th with a time of 25:56.6. 

Finally, Sophomore Elizabeth Willett placed 138th with a time of 26:22.9. 

“The women’s team improved a couple places from the year previous so I’m feeling good about it,” Sussman said. 

The Eagle’s will next compete at the Ohio Wesleyan Invitational on Friday Oct. 4.