Cross country opens season, celebrates seniors with home meet

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – Opening the season on its home course, the Otterbein University cross country teams competed at the Otterbein Invitational. Both teams placed second in the 5K race, with the women scoring 37 points and the men scoring 39.

Prior to the race, the Cardinals celebrated its senior class of Henry Barnes, Ava Stratmann, Caleb Rafferty, Corey Rafferty, Brady Pugh, Sarah Scarborough, Kierstin Knell, Abby Kobs and Mitch Green.

The women's team was led by Stratmann, who placed third with a time of 20:01.92. Scarborough was narrowly behind in fifth, clocking a 20:06.54, while junior Brenna Lay took seventh with a race of 20:16.17. Freshman Erica Mason shined in her debut, finishing 10th overall and running a 20:23.58.

With a time of 20:39.72, junior Eliza McDonald was 13th to round out the top 15 placers for the hosts. Kate Thormeier (20:46.25), Claire Speakman (21:00.56), Violet Gies (21:12.87) and Kobs (21:28.19) were the next Cardinals to cross the finish line. Kennedy Helton finished just behind Kobs with a 21:46.90, while Knell's 22:09.40 earned her 25th overall.

Grace Blonde (22:15.56), Gigi Leiter (22.19.99) and Taylor Rockwell (22.32.95) rounded out the team.

In the men's race that followed, Green ran a 16:09.18 to finish third overall. He was joined by Pugh (16:19.42) and Tucker See (16:21.77) inside the top six, with Pugh placing fifth and See taking sixth.

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Caleb Rafferty ran a 16:38.43 to finish next for the Cardinals and was followed by freshman Jose Alvelo's impressive 16:39.02. Charlie Rundio turned in a race time of 16:41.92, while freshman Cameron Burke clocked a 16:51.63. With a time of 16:55.92, Corey Rafferty rounded out the top 20 for the Cardinals.

A trio of Cardinals finished together in Brannon Moser (17:17.27), Henry Barnes (17:23.83) and Dylan Szepiela (17:27.15). Rounding out the Otterbein competitors were sophomores Spencer Grace (18:19.10), Xavier Campbell (18:19.40), Easton Miller (18:24.65) and James Vasselo (18:28.68).

Next Friday, the Cardinals head to the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing, Mich.

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Players Mentioned

Xavier Campbell: Sophomore

Spencer Grace: Sophomore

Mitch Green: Senior

Caleb Rafferty: Senior

Charlie Rundio: Sophomore

James Vasselo: Sophomore

Henry Barnes: Junior

Easton Miller: Sophomore

Brady Pugh: Senior

Corey Rafferty: Senior

Players Mentioned

Xavier Campbell
: Sophomore

Spencer Grace
: Sophomore

Mitch Green
: Senior

Caleb Rafferty
: Senior

Charlie Rundio
: Sophomore

James Vasselo
: Sophomore

Henry Barnes
: Junior

Easton Miller
: Sophomore

Brady Pugh
: Senior

Corey Rafferty
: Senior