Billy Driemeyer, Taylor Ellerbrock win 5k races to claim Polar Bear Grand Prix titles

November 10, 2020

By Tim Glon

ADA — Sophomore Billy Driemeyer (House Springs, Mo./Lindbergh) and junior Taylor Ellerbrock (Columbus Grove) won the men's and women's 5,000-meter races on Friday night under the lights at Kerscher Stadium.

The victories also propelled the two to the men's and women's titles for the 6-race Polar Bear Grand Prix Series, a group of intrasquad races contested by the Ohio Northern cross country teams this fall.

Dreimeyer won the men's 5k race in 15:09 and Ellerbrock won the women's 5k race in 18:03.

Driemeyer's victory moved him into the lead in the men's individual standings. The win earned him 437.5 points and gives him 1687.5 for the Grand Prix Series standings.

Junior Patrick Baker (Massillon/Jackson) finished second in the 5k race in 15:14 and is second overall with 1587.5 points and senior Travis Sutter (Fort Recovery) was third in the race in 15:44 and was third in the series 1350 points.

Ellerbrock held a slim 50-point lead over senior Megan Wright (Eaton/Twin Valley South) heading into the 5k finale and extended her lead with an impressive 40-second victory over the second place Wright, earning 437.5 points.

Ellerbrock won the title with 1700 points, Wright was a solid second with 1587.5 points and freshman Megan Vapenik (Strongsville) was third in the race in 19:30 and finished third in the individual standings with 1087.5 points.