Women's Cross Country finishes 4th of 9 at Taylor (Ind.) Invitational

By Tim Glon

UPLAND, Ind. — The Ohio Northern women's cross country team finished fourth out of nine teams at the 2014 Taylor (Ind.) Ray Bullock Invitational Friday evening at the TU Cross Country Course.

The Polar Bears (8-4 overall) finished with 100 points to finish fourth in the field made up of NAIA and NCAA Division III schools.

No. 7-ranked (NAIA) Taylor won the meet with 24 points, Marian (Ind.) was second with 75 points, Siena Heights (Mich.) was third with 86 points and Indiana Tech was fifth with 112 points.

ONU finished first among the three Division III schools, defeating Anderson (Ind.) and Trine (Ind.)

Junior Kara Sosinski led the Polar Bears across the finish line, finishing 17th of 100 runners in 20:40 on the 5,000-meter course.

Junior Rebekah McCutchen was 23rd in 21:04, senior Raechel Moore was 24th in 21:04, senior Julie Puvogel was 28th in 21:12 and freshman Kirsten Harder was 31st in 21:24.

Taylor's Alex Berends won the race in 18:36.

The Polar Bears will return to action Sat., Sept. 13, at the Calvin (Mich.) Invitational.

Team Standings

1. #7 Taylor (Ind.) 24, 2. Marian (Ind.) 75, 3. Siena Heights (Mich.) 86, 4. Ohio Northern 100, 5. Indiana Tech 112, 6. Anderson (Ind.) 180, 7. Trine (Ind.) 200, 8. Bethel (Ind.) 216, 9. St. Francis (Ind.) 249.

Top 5 Individual Results

1. Alex Berends (Tay) 18:36, 2. Elaine Schmeltz (Tay) 19:54, 3. Laura Condron (IT) 19:58, 4. Ashley Russo (SH) 19:59, 5. Anna Meyer (Tay) 20:00.

Ohio Northern Individual Results

17. Kara Sosinski 20:40, 23. Rebekah McCutchen 21:04, 24. Raechel Moore 21:04, 28. Julie Puvogel 21:12, 31. Kirsten Harder 21:24, 32. Alexis Kandel 21:34, 36. Morgan Rouch 21:49, 39. Emily Richards 22:00, 45. Valerie Bixler 22:16, 55. Megan Joseph 22:55, 63. Deanna Calder 23:28, 64. Danielle Sutter 23:28, 71. Paige Giessler 23:45, 73. Emily Myers 23:55, 84. Jessica Plaugher 25:06, 88. Elizabeth Martin 26:04, 90. Renee Kraft 26:31, 93. Megan Cox 27:12.