WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The Capital University men’s and women’s cross country teams battled through a large field of competitors to compete at the Otterbein Invitational on Saturday. The CU men placed 17th out of 21 teams while the women were 18th out of 23 teams.
Senior Bryan DeArdo (Pickerington, Ohio/Pickerington Central HS) led the Crusader men once again as he crossed the line with his fastest time of the season at 27:13.9. He placed 98th individually out of 297 competitors.
Sophomore Nate Wirrig (North Lewisburg, Ohio/Tri-County HS) trailed by just 12 seconds at 27:25.3 to place 110th while classmate Emerson Rhoad (Zanesville, Ohio/Zanesville HS) placed 116th overall with a time of 27:29.8
Freshman Alex Moore (Hilliard, Ohio/Hilliard Davidson HS) was closely behind the lead pack with a time of 27:41.2 to finish in 126th position for the Crusaders.
Junior Joel Eversole (Waverly, Ohio/Waverly HS) placed 173rd as he ran a 28:29.5. He was followed by senior Joe Miceli (Newark, Ohio/Newark Catholic HS) who was 215th at 29:26.9 and freshman Conrad Booth (Dutch Harbor, Alk./Unalaska HS) who finished 250th with a time of 30:43.5.
The duo of Zack Link (Centerville, Ohio/Centerville HS) and Kevin Pisle (Lima, Ohio/Lima Shawnee HS) rounded out the Crusader male competitors with times of 32:00.4 and 33:28.9 respectively.
Senior Shelly Gaines (Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing HS) led the Capital women by placing 84th individually with a time of 24:38.3 while classmate Kara Baker (Bellevue, Ohio/Sandusky Perkins HS) placed 121st after crossing the line at 25:20.8.
Another pack of Crusaders followed at 26:21.0 and 26.24.1 as freshman Sarah Trick (Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe HS) finished 175th and senior Lindsay Dearth (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South HS) finished in 176th position.
Two more CU runners finished back-to-back with senior Amy Shaw (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland HS) taking 223rd place at 28:40.0 and sophomore Betsy Mellick (Amherst, Ohio/Amherst Steele HS) in 224th place at 28:40.9.
Freshmen Marissa Snyder (Montpelier, Ohio/Montpelier HS), Jacqueline Sweitochowiski (Des Plaines, Ohio/Maine West HS) and Hannah Childs (Grandview Heights, Ohio/Grandview Heights HS) closed out the CU competitors on the female side. Snyder finished at 29:35.1 while Sweitochowiski had a 30.26.0 and Childs posted a 31:09.8
Capital will return to action at the All-Ohio Championships on Oct. 10 in Delaware, Ohio.