The University of Dayton men’s and women’s cross country teams opened their seasons at the 14th annual Meijer/Flyer 5K Saturday in Kettering, Ohio at Indian Riffle Park.
The men’s and women’s teams both took third place in the meet in their respective divisions. The women’s team, coached by Sarah Haveman, scored a total of 85 points at the meet, while the men’s team, coached by Rich Davis, earned 52 points.
The women’s team was led by sophomore Nicole Cargill who ran a time of 18:52, finishing ninth overall. She was followed by freshman Olivia Albers, who finished with the second fastest time for the Flyers in a time of 19:11 to place 17th.
Rounding out the top five runners for UD were junior Sarah Reynolds in 18th place with a time of 19:25, followed by senior Marisa Slomski in 19:43 and sophomore Mary List in 19:50.
A large number of athletic department staff, athletes and UD students came to the meet to support their fellow Flyers.
“I feel the team brought a great positive attitude to the race,” said Slomski in an email to Flyer News. “It was everyone’s first race of the season and the freshman’s first collegiate race. Despite everyone being nervous, we were trying to pump everyone up during the warm up and before the race. Even after the race, regardless of people’s finish everyone was congratulating each other and proud of one another for fighting through the extreme heat.”
In the final results from the women’s race, the Ohio State University finished first, scoring 19 points. Miami University finished second with 38 points, followed by Dayton. The University of Cincinnati, Wright State University and Cleveland State University rounded out the next three team spots.
Dayton is currently ranked No. 15 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason Great Lakes Region. Ohio State is ranked No. 8 and Miami is No. 14 in the same poll.
“Everyone had a good first race, and we finished third without three of our girls who could be in the top 5,” said Cargill in an email with Flyer News. “I think now that everyone has the first race out of the way, and in better conditions, people will step up and times will drop. We are very capable of having a great team and placing high at A-10’s.”
For the men’s team, redshirt senior Greg Roeth led the way. He placed third overall in the meet with a time of 15:25. Behind Roeth was senior Kyle Lowry, who also finished in the top 10 for the Flyers. Lowry had a time of 15:33.
Lowery was followed by junior Eric Gruenbacher, who finished 13th overall with a time of 15:46, senior Jeremy Schiele in 14th overall with a time of 15:46 and freshman Ryan Polman’s 15:48 to place in 16th overall.
“The biggest strength the team showed this weekend is that they are willing to go against the pecking order and beat people on the team that they haven’t ever beaten before,” said Roeth in an email. “I think our team has a lot of work to do to get where we want to be. We have a lot of potential, and I think there are a few people on the team that will surprise even themselves this year.”
Ohio State made it a sweep by also winning the men’s meet with a score of 36 points. The Buckeyes were again closely followed by Miami, who finished with 39 points. Dayton’s third-place finish was followed by Wright State finishing with 110 points. The Buckeyes are ranked No. 6 in the Great Lakes Region poll.
The Flyers are scheduled to compete at the National Catholic Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14.
