Women's Cross Country wins Blue River Park Pre-Regional meet

By Tim Glon

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. — The Ohio Northern women's cross country team put five runners in the top 10 and went on to win the Blue River Park Pre-Regional meet on Saturday at the Blue River Cross Country Course.

The Polar Bears (24-9) scored 37 points to win the 6-team meet by 30 points.

Trine (Ind.) was second with 67 points, Earlham (Ind.) was third with 79 points and Manchester (Ind.) was fourth with 81 points.

Freshman Elizabeth Whitmore (Mason) led a tight ONU pack with a fifth place finish out of 56 runners in 24:52 over the 6,000-meter course.

Sophomore Megan Wright (Eaton/Twin Valley South) was sixth in 25:05, senior Kristina Myers (Grove City/Central Crossing) was seventh in 25:21, sophomore Chyanne Retcher (Ney/Fairview) was ninth in 25:27 andjunior Kathleen Colvin (Hilliard/Bishop Ready) was tenth in 25:32.

Hannah Wappes of Manchester (Ind.) won the race in 24:02.

The Polar Bears will return to action on Sept. 29 at the All-Ohio Championships at Akron.

Team Standings

1. Ohio Northern 37, 2. Trine (ind.) 67, 3. Earlham (Ind.) 26:02, 4. Manchester (ind.) 26:11, 5. Bluffton 26:24, 6. Anderson (Ind.) 179.

Top 5 Individuals

1. Hannah Wappes (Manchester) 24:02, 2. Ana Sosa-Ebert (Earlham) 24:27. 3. Evonne Bultmeyer (Trine) 24:33, 4. Lacie Piekarski (Trine), 5. Elizabeth Whitmore (Ohio Northern) 24:52.

Ohio Northern Individual Results

5. Elizabeth Whitmore 24:52, 6. Megan Wright 25:05, 7. Kristina Myers 25:21, 9. Chyanne Retcher 25:27, 10. Kathleen Colvin 25:32, 12. Avery Ewing 25:37, 16. Angie Sullivan 26:00, 20. Tessa Pitcovich 26:29, 24. Sophia Thompson 26:48, 26. Colleen Grainger 27:09, 30. Kylie Vestal 27:33, 33. Elizabeth Steele 28:03, 38. Michaela Fox 29:17, 41. Taylor Ellerbrock 29:53, 45. Janelle Posthuma 30:38, 46. Karsen Bresnahan 30:58.