Women's Cross Country finishes second at season-opening Polar Bear Invitational
By Tim Glon
ADA — The Ohio Northern women's cross country team opened its 2021 season with a solid second place finish at the Polar Bear Invitational on a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the ONU campus.
The race marked the first competition Since Nov. 23, 2019 as the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was also the first home contest for Ohio Northern since Sept. 1, 2012.
Senior Tessa Pitcovich (Stow/Stow-Munroe Falls) led the Polar Bears (3-1 overall) across the finish line in 18:45 for the 5,000-meter course, as she was third out of 76 runners overall.
Findlay won the team title with 29 points, Ohio Northern was second with 43 points, a team of ONU alumni was third with 85 points, Tiffin was fourth with 105 points and Heidelberg was fifth with 117 points.
Senior Taylor Ellerbrock (Columbus Grove) was sixth for ONU in 19:12, freshman Olyvia Ashbrook (Johnstown/Northridge) was 10th in 19:32, freshman Bailey Kreft (Sunbury/Buckeye Valley) was 11th in 19:33 and senior Rue Whitmore (Mason) was 13th in 19:33.
Gabrielle Lawrence of Findlay won the individual title in 18:28.
Northern returns to competition Sept. 17 at the All-Ohio Championships at Cedarville.
Team Standings
1. Findlay 29, 2. Ohio Northern 43, 3. Ohio Northern Alumni 85, 4. Tiffin 105, 5. Heidelberg 177.
Top 5 Individuals
1. Gabrielle Lawrence (Findlay) 18:28, 2. Hannah Thompson (ONU Alumni) 18:39, 3. Tessa Pitcovich (ONU) 18:45, 4. Hailey Simmons (Findlay) 19:07, 5. Ines McAdam (Tiffin) 19:08.
Ohio Northern Results
3. Tessa Pitcovich 18:45, 6. Taylor Ellerbrock 19:12, 10. Olyvia Ashbrook 19:32, 11. Bailey Kreft 19:33, 13. Rue Whitmore 19:42, 14. Ashley Hockstock 19:53, 19. Lexi Neff 20:13, 26. Sydney Goodrich 20:39, 30. Abby Matthews 20:55, 31. Sophia Thompson 20:56, 32. Olesya Mertz 21:04, 43. Anika Berrios 21:07, 38,. Rachel Thompson 21:21, 39. Gabrielle Kowalczyk 21:28, 41. Aubrey Cable 21:58, 45. M.J. Zindars 22:16, 49. Summer Bouillon 23:10, 50. Lizzy Dingman 23:14, 53. Karsen Bresnahan 23:35, 54. Grace Vega 23:37, 58. Chelsea Johnson 24:09, 65. Erica Mobley 26:11, 70. J.J. Herron 31:17.
