CEDARVILLE, Ohio – For the first time under head coach Joe Jaketic the Cleveland State cross country team had five runners post sub 20-minute 5Ks - and recorded an all-time low team average - en route to a second place finish at the Friendship Invitational.
"We did very, very well today, I am so proud of everyone's performances and our collective team effort," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "They had a tough week of workouts, and they have been responding well to those workouts and their hard work is definitely showing on the course. We had a nice group of runners at the top of the pack today, and we were able to come away with two top-10 finishes which is awesome."
The Vikings had two runners finish in the top-10, and four runners finish in the top-15 Saturday morning at the Friendship Invitational. Ashlyn Woods was CSU's top finisher, placing sixth overall with a time of 19:15 – which ranks 17th on the top-performances list. After dropping out of last week's race with an injury, Tori Holt bounced back and placed ninth overall Saturday, crossing the finish line in a time of 19:24. Holt's time marked her third sub 20-minute 5K this season, and ranks 28th on the top-performances list.
Freshman Samantha Butterbaugh recorded a season-best time of 19:27 to place 11th overall, while Katie Webb placed 14th with a time of 19:32. Both Butterbaugh and Webb's times rank in the top-40 on CSU's top 5K list. The final Viking to post a sub 20-minute 5K was Alanna Shamrock, who bettered her personal-best by two seconds with a time of 19:49.
Madison Scagnetti (36th – 20:42) and Amelia Holt (41st – 20:55) recorded top-50 finishes for the Vikings, while Erin Pavick was just outside the top-50, finishing 51st in a time of 21:29. The next group of Vikings to cross the finish line were Megan O'Keefe, Sierra Swigert, and Kristin McCarthy - with McCarthy posting a season-best time of 22:45.
Also competing for the Vikings at the Friendship Invitational were Sarah Mallow, Emily Marshall, and Ashley Lydic.
"We had a great average time as a team today – one of the best averages that I can remember us ever having. Everyone is very excited about the results from the race today, and definitely looking forward to coming back to this course in two weeks for the All-Ohio Championship," Jaketic said.
The Vikings will now take a week off from competition, returning to the course on Friday, October 3 for the All-Ohio Championship. The All-Ohio Championship will once again take place at the Elvin R. King Cross Country Course, and is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start.
Friendship Invitational Results
6. Ashlyn Woods – 19:15
9. Tori Holt – 19:24
11. Samantha Butterbaugh – 19:27
14. Katie Webb – 19:32
21. Alanna Shamrock – 19:49
36. Madison Scagnetti – 20:42
41. Amelia Holt – 20:55
51. Erin Pavick – 21:29
60. Megan O'Keefe – 21:52
69. Sierra Swigert – 22:32
71. Kristin McCarthy – 22:45
74. Sarah Mallow – 23:08
75. Emily Marshall – 23:10
81. Ashley Lydic – 23:52
