DETROIT, Mich. – The Cleveland State cross country team continued the 2015 season Saturday afternoon, running in the 29th Annual Running Fit Detroit Titan Invitational. As a team, the Vikings finished seventh with 156 points.
"This wasn't our best race, but we are running better and continuing to show improvement which is always a good thing," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "Sam (Butterbaugh) and Ashlyn (Woods) were actually leading the race, and unfortunately took a wrong turn on the course, but they finished the race, just not where they would have liked to place. We are all looking forward to this weekend's Friendship Invitational – there will be at least four other Horizon League schools running there, so we will have a chance to see how we stack up against the other schools. I have been asking them to give me their best every day at practice, and it is definitely starting to show on the course, which I am so proud of."
Cleveland State's top finisher was freshman Marissa Sell, who placed 21st overall with a time of 20:24 – an improvement over her 5K time from last week. Ashley Lydic was the second Viking to cross the finish line, placing 30th overall with a time of 21:07, while Alanna Shamrock finished just behind her in 31st place.
Kristin McCarthy and Emily Marshall both recorded personal-best 5K times Saturday, McCarthy finishing 40th overall with a time of 21:42 and Marshall placing 41st with a time of 21:54.
Freshman Victoria Bonca ran in her first collegiate race Saturday, finishing the 5K course in a time of 25:13.
Next up for the Vikings will be the Friendship Invitational on Saturday, September 19. The 5K race will take place in Cedarville, Ohio.
Cleveland State Results:
21. Marissa Sell, 20:24
30. Ashley Lydic, 21:07
31. Alanna Shamrock, 21:11
34. Megan O'Keefe, 21:20
40. Kristin McCarthy, 21:42
41. Emily Marshall, 21:54
48. Samantha Butterbaugh, 22:38
49. Sarah Mallow, 22:43
52. Ashlyn Woods, 22:49
57. Victoria Bonca, 25:13