CRUSADERS FORGE AHEAD AT FRIENDSHIP INVITATIONAL

CEDARVILLE, Ohio - On a perfect day for running and competing on a favorable course, Capital's men's and women's cross country teams seized the day, taking home 12^th and 13^th places, respectively at the 2009 Friendship Invitational on Saturday.

"It was a good day overall," head coach Rachel Barends said. "Our times are dropping, and the younger runners are getting more used to the college race."

On a low-cut course will a few rolling hills sprinkled in throughout the trail, many of Capital's runners improved on their times of a week ago at the Wittenberg Invitational.

"It was a great day, and a really nice course," said freshmen Emma McCarren (Mansfield, OH/Crestview HS), who paced the Crusader women for the second straight weekend. Her time of 20:52 (which was 65^th overall Saturday) was a 25-second improvement from a week earlier. "There was good competition out there, and I think I have a better idea of what it's like to run college races."

Sarah Trick (Tipp City/OH, Tippecanoe HS) was the second Crusader to cross the finish line, running a 21:35 at coming in 91^st place. The sophomore had extra motivation to do well this weekend.

"Sarah didn't finish the race here last year, so she was nervous coming into the race today," Barends said. "But she ran a good race and looked very strong out there."

 For the second consecutive weekend, classmate Hannah Childs (Columbus, OH/Grandview Heights HS) set a new personal mark, running a 22:00 and finishing 100^th.

Freshmen Becca Muntean (Boardman, OH/Boardman HS) and Emily Zapp (Gahanna, OH/Gahanna Lincoln HS) ran as a pack and posted times of 22:17 (113^th) and 22:19 (114^th place), respectively.

Classmate Casey Simmons' (Beavercreek, OH/Beavercreek HS) time of 22:24 was good for 117^th place, and junior Betsy Melick (Marion L. Steele HS) earned 162^nd place and a time of 25:45 in her first meet of the season. Freshmen Jessica Cooper (Springfield, OH/Springfield Catholic Central HS) showed consistency while running a 28:29 (175^th place), which was only six seconds off of her time from a week ago.

Leading the Crusader men was freshman Bret Nehrenz (Seville,OH/Cloverleaf HS), who finished 92^nd overall with his time of 29:05, 24 seconds faster than his first-ever college meet last week at Wittenberg. Sophomore Alex Moore's (Hilliard, OH/Hilliard Davidson HS) time of 29:34 was good for 101^st overall.

The duo of freshmen Ben Herbert (Chagrin Falls, OH/Kenston HS) and Joel Eversole (Waverly, OH/Waverly HS) finished six seconds apart, as Herbert crossed the line in 31:23 and Eversole in 31:29. The senior was competing in his first race of the season after sustaining several nagging injuries during the offseason.

"It was good for Joel to get that first race in and get adjusted to racing again," Barends said. "He ran a good race and should continue to improve as his training continues."

Not far behind was freshman Josh Beaudoin (Pemberville, OH/Eastwood HS), who turned in 31:49 and a 136^th place finish. Competing in his second-ever collegiate race was sophomore Brian Huff (Canton, OH/Glen Oak HS), who finished in 146^th place with his time of 32:21.

Freshman Zach Heyne (New Castle, IND/Blue River Valley HS) and sophomore Jacob Frye (Groveport, OH/Groveport Madison HS) turned in a solid race with his time of 34:57 (167^th place), while Frye turned in a time of 36:18 (170^th place).