Cross Country teams finish second at Flyer 5K

By: Steve Miller-Sports Editor

Both the Flyers men’s and women’s cross country teams finished second at the Rich Davis Flyer 5K, an annual race held at Indian Riffle Park in Kettering, OH.

The men’s team finished just one point behind of Ohio University and defeated the University of Louisville. Sophomore Chris Negri and senior Hunter Johnston led the Flyers, finishing third and fourth overall, respectively. Both men set personal records.

“Other than me, our top four runners were all underclassmen,” said Johnston after the race. “I’m really happy with how they stepped up and raced. They’re going to help us out a lot when we get to the longer distances.”

Sophomore Spencer Danielson, who finished seventh overall, was the third Flyer to finish in the top 10. Dayton had seven runners place in the top 15.

For the women, sophomore Taylor Vernot led the Flyers, finishing second overall. UD defeated Ohio, and Louisville came in first overall. Vernot, junior Grace McDonald, freshman Kassidy Manning, and junior Emily Leonard all finished in the top 10.

“I’m really pleased with how the ladies performed today,” said Head Coach and Director of Cross Country Sarah Haveman following the race. “Everyone that raced had an element that they performed [very] well.”

“Taylor is always one of those athletes you can count on,” Haveman said of her top finisher Saturday. “She’s very consistent and she can execute plans precisely.”

Up next, both the men’s and women’s teams will send groups to the National Catholic Invitational 8K at the University of Notre Dame Friday, September 16.

“We’re really looking forward to that because it’s a meet that counts for the national ranking,” said Johnston about the National Catholic Invitational. “We’re looking to make a pretty big statement there.”

Photo by Erik Schelkun/Dayton Athletics