WILLMINGTON, Ohio – Behind a record-setting time from junior Karen Barrientos, the Cleveland State cross country team was able to place third as a team at the Jenna Strong Fall Classic Friday afternoon, marking its highest team finish of the season.
"I am so thrilled by everyone's performance today, they had a very hard week of workouts, and they came out ready to run today and they certainly did just that," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "Everyone was very focused throughout the week and everyone pushed each other throughout the workouts and that hard work paid off. This was a great way to end our regular season before heading into the Horizon League Championship, and hopefully we will be able to build off of this momentum and continue our hard work through the next couple weeks until it's time for the championship race."
For the seventh time this season, Barrientos paced the Vikings, placing sixth overall with a career-best and Cleveland State record 5K time of 18:05. Friday's race marked the second sub 19-minute 5K time for Barrientos this season, and smashed the previous school record.
Ashlyn Woods was the second Viking to cross the finish line, as she also recorded a personal-best time on the 5K course, finishing 12th in a time of 18:32. This marked the first time under Jaketic that two runners recorded sub 19-minute 5K times in the same race.
Cleveland State also had an additional trio of runners finish with sub 20-minute times on the day, as Samantha Butterbaugh finished 31st in a time of 19:10, Olivia Hammons placed 45th in 19:26, and Jessica Finley posted a time of 19:30 to place 47th. Hammons and Finley both recorded career-best 5K times, while Butterbaugh notched a season-best time Friday afternoon.
Emily Marshall was the next Viking to finish, crossing the finish line in a career-best time of 20:34.
Anna Beasley (21:23) and Emma McQuate (22:16) were the next two Vikings to finish the 5K course, while Bridget Smik (22:33) and Andrea Wardeiner (22:55) also competed for Cleveland State.
Cleveland State will now take a week off from competition, returning to action at the Horizon League Championship on Saturday, October 29 in Kenosha, Wis.
Jenna Strong Fall Classic Results
6. Karen Barrientos, 18:05
12. Ashlyn Woods, 18:32
31. Samantha Butterbaugh, 19:10
45. Olivia Hammons, 19:26
47. Jessica Finley, 19:30
75. Alanna Shamrock, 19:58
112. Emily Marshall, 20:34
173. Anna Beasley, 21:23
230. Emma McQuate, 22:16
242. Bridget Smik, 22:33
257. Andrea Wardeiner, 22:55
