Sophomore Emily Richards leads Women's Cross Country to victory at season-opening Bluffton 5k
By Tim Glon
BLUFFTON — Sophomore Emily Richards led the Ohio Northern women's cross country team to a victory at the Bluffton 5k Friday evening at the Bluffton Nature Center.
The Polar Bears (4-0) won the 5-team meet with 29 points, Tiffin was second with 67 points, Bluffton was third with 74 points, Lourdes was fourth with 131 points and Ohio Christian was fifth with 155 points.
A team of ONU alumni finished with 80 points and would have been fourth in the meet.
Richards won the race in 19:20.
Freshman Ashlie Baumann was fifth of 56 runners in 19:35 for ONU.
Senior Rebekah McCutchen finished in 19:38, senior Margaret Sorg was eighth in 20:13 and sophomore Alexis Kandel was ninth in 20:19.
The Polar Bears will return to action Sept. 12 at the Calvin (Mich.) Invitational.
Team Standings
1. Ohio Northern 29, 2. Tiffin 67, 3. Bluffton 74, 4. Ohio Northern Alumni 80, 5. Lourdes 131, 6. Ohio Christian 155.
Top 5 Individuals
1. Emily Richards (ONU) 19:20, 2. Ashley Linton (Tif) 19:27, 3. Jamie Lombardo (Tif) 19:30, 4. Jennie Matteson (Bluf) 19:31, 5. Ashlie Baumann (ONU) 19:35.
Ohio Northern Individual Results
1. Emily Richards 19:20, 5. Ashlie Baumann 19:35, 6. Rebekah McCutchen 19:38, 8. Margaret Sorg 20:13, 9. Alexis Kandel 20:19, 10. Colleen Grainger 20:24, 12. Kristina Myers 20:30, 13. Janelle Posthuma 20:32, 15. Genevieve Marchese 20:36, 16. Nikki Huber 20:39, 17. Danielle Sutter 20:53, 19. Kara Sosinski 21:00, 23. Angie Sullivan 21:11, 26. Avery Ewing 21:37, 32. Michaela Fox 22:26, 33. Morgan Rouch 22:30, 41. Megan Joseph 23:09, 43. Elizabeth Steele 23:43, 44. Enya Kent 24:34, 49. Renee Kraft 25:47.