PAINESVILLE, Ohio – The Cleveland State cross country team continued its 2016 season Saturday, running an unconventional 4.5K at the Storm Invitational. The course, which was originally slated to be run as a 6K race, was shortened to a short-course race.
As a team, the Vikings placed fourth at the Storm Invitational out of 15 total teams.
"Although it was a little different to run on a short course today, I thought we ran very well overall and we were just happy to be able to get another race on our schedule this weekend," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "It's hard to tell how we finished with the short course times, but everyone was happy with their performances. We need to work on closing the gap between some of our runners, which is definitely something we will work on in practice over the next few weeks before the league championship."
For the sixth straight race this season, junior Karen Barrientos paced the Vikings, finishing the race with a sixth place overall finish in a time of 16:43. Ashlyn Woods was right behind Barrientos, as she also notched a top-10 finish, placing ninth overall in a time of 17:03.
The freshmen duo of Olivia Hammons and Jessica Finley also posted sub 18-minute times at the short course race, Hammons placing 35th in a time of 17:57 and Finley placing 38th with a time of 17:59.
Cleveland State's final top-50 finish came from Samantha Butterbaugh, as she finished 40th with a time of 18:04. Alanna Shamrock (18:37) and Emily Marshall (18:41) were the next two Vikings to cross the finish line, while Anna Beasley (19:13), Emma McQuate (20:24), Bridget Smik (20:42), and Andrea Wardeiner (20:59) also competed for Cleveland State.
The Vikings will return to action next Friday (October 14), at the Jenna Strong Fall Classic in Wilmington, Ohio.
Storm Invitational Results
6. Karen Barrientos, 16:43
9. Ashlyn Woods, 17:03
35. Olivia Hammons, 17:57
38. Jessica Finley, 17:59
40. Samantha Butterbaugh, 18:04
54. Alanna Shamrock, 18:37
59. Emily Marshall, 18:41
74. Anna Beasley, 19:13
91. Emma McQuate, 20:24
99. Bridget Smik, 20:42
102. Andrea Wardeiner, 20:59
