Cross country shines at Live in Lou Classic

The men's team won their race while the women placed 11th.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Back in action at the stacked Live in Lou Classic, the Otterbein University cross country teams excelled, seeing the men's team win their respective division. The men's team, who is receiving votes in the latest USTFCCCA Division III National Poll, won their race with 153 points, edging out conference rival Mount Union by two points. The women's team fared very well, placing 11th out of 46 teams.

Men's Full Results | Women's Full Results

Senior Payne Ratliff took third out of over 330 runners, finishing with a season-best time of 24:50.2. Tucker See also turned in a season-best race. The sophomore crossed the finish line at 25:40.6. Also finishing in the top 50 for the Cardinals were Corey Rafferty and Caleb Rafferty. Corey's time of 25:52.9 earned him 36th overall, as Caleb took 44th with a 25:57.1.

With a time of 26:06.7, junior Mitch Green had a solid showing in Kentucky for Otterbein. David Hartman contributed a personal best time of 26:27.1 on the day, as Brady Pugh's 26:57.7 saw him as the next Cardinal to cross.

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Seniors Gavin Kelly (27:20.5) and Drew Osler (27:44.9) were next for the Cardinals, competing in a very packed race. Freshman Charlie Rundio was another Otterbein runner to clock a personal best, running a time of 27:49.7. With a time of 28:03.2, Brannon Moser finished next for the Cardinals, as James Vassello's 28:13.6 was good for a PR for the freshman. Rounding out the field for Otterbein was Aidan Castillo (28:17.2) and Alec Spangler (29:14.9).

The women's team also had a very successful day, taking 11th out of 46 teams in their race. Otterbein was led by freshman Kate Thormeier, who continued to add to her impressive freshman season with a PR time of 22:38.9 and placing 30th overall. Classmate Ella Degenhard was 41st in the field, also running a personal best time of 22:55.9.

Next up for the Cardinals was sophomore Brenna Lay, running a 23:41.8. Junior Ava Stratmann's 23:53.6 was next for Otterbein, adding to the team's strong performance. Both Ollie Smith (24:29.5) and Eliza McDonald (24:29.5) recorded new personal bests, running identical times on Saturday. Rounding out the field for the Cardinals were Abby Kobs (24:51.3), Kennedy Helton (25:10.0) and Rachel Ziel (25:19.9). Helton's time was a new personal best for the sophomore.

On Oct. 18, the Cardinals will race at another big Division III meet to prepare them for postseason competition. Otterbein will head to Augustana for the Augustana Interregional Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

Aidan Castillo: Sophomore

Mitch Green: Junior

David Hartman: Senior

Gavin Kelly: Senior

Drew Osler: Senior

Brady Pugh: Junior

Caleb Rafferty: Junior

Corey Rafferty: Junior

Payne Ratliff: Senior

Tucker See: Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Aidan Castillo
: Sophomore

Mitch Green
: Junior

David Hartman
: Senior

Gavin Kelly
: Senior

Drew Osler
: Senior

Brady Pugh
: Junior

Caleb Rafferty
: Junior

Corey Rafferty
: Junior

Payne Ratliff
: Senior

Tucker See
: Sophomore