Cross Country teams open 2011 season with unusual format at Tiffin Challenge

Cross Country teams open 2011 season with unusual format at Tiffin Challenge
September 3, 2011

By: Tim Glon

TIFFIN — The Ohio Northern men's and women's cross country teams opened their 2011 seasons with an unusual format at the Tiffin Challenge on Saturday.

The schools ran in teams of between five and seven runners tethered together on a 12-foot long rope, with the first team to cross the finish line intact being declared the winner.

Due to extreme heat of more than 95 degrees, many teams did not finish intact as many runners were forced to stop the race early for safety reasons.

"It was a fun meet and a different way to open the season," ONU head coach Jason Maus said. "It was definitely an unusual format. But it was good for us in that we grew as a group with regards to teamwork. You are only as fast as the slowest runner, so there was quite of bit of teamwork and strategy involved. Unfortunately the heat was really a factor and really had an impact on the meet."

On the men's side, Heidelberg won with a time of 20:31 for 6,000 meters. Ohio Northern was second in 21:00, Tiffin was third in 22:35 and Mount Union did not have a team finish intact.

On the women's side, Mount Union won in 15:38 for 4,000 meters, Tiffin was second in 16:31, No. 33-ranked Ohio Northern was third in 16:40 and Heidelberg was fourth in 17:51.

The Polar Bears had all five women's teams finish the race, while just one ONU men's squad crossed the finish line intact.

Ohio Northern will return to action with a pair of meets against NCAA Division I opponents next weekend.

The varsity will travel to Charlottesville, Va., for the University of Virginia Open on Friday, while a squad of JV runners will compete at Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne on Saturday.

Men's Team Results

1. Heidelberg 20:31, 2. Ohio Northern 21:00, 3. Tiffin 22:35, 4. Mount Union DNF

Women's Team Results

1. Mount Union 15:38, 2. Tiffin 16:31, 3. Ohio Northern 16:40, 4. Ohio Northern 2 16:44, 5. Tiffin 2 17:05, 6. Ohio Northern 3 17:25, 7. Mount Union 2 17:48, 8. Heidelberg 17:51, 9. Ohio Northern 4 18:34, 10. Ohio Northern 5 19:38.