DELAWARE, Ohio – The Wittenberg cross country teams participated in the 2014 Ohio Wesleyan Invitational, and the men finished in fifth-place among 10 teams while the women were eighth among 11.

The highlight of the day was the individual finish of sophomore Jon Osman (Troy, Ohio/Troy), who completed the 8k course at Liberty Park in suburban Delaware in a time of 26:22.3, good for fifth place, behind race winner Justin Eilerman of the University of Findlay, Sam Lagasse of Kenyon College, Jacob Hayes from Findlay and Joseph David of the College of Wooster. Osman cruised in just 42 second after the champion.

Wooster won the men's event with 71 points and Ohio Wesleyan was runner-up at 77, followed by Otterbein in third and Findlay in fourth.

Backing up Osman for the men was senior Adam Kapuscinski (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore) in 18^th place on a time of 27:28.0. Sophomore Chase Gage (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) pulled in next for the Tigers, crossing the finish line in 28:04.9 for 30^th place among 117 runners. Senior Andrew Ziminski (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) and sophomore Ethan Raines (Maineville, Ohio/Little Miami) rounded out the top five in 33^rd and 42^nd.

On the women's side, junior Lorin Conti (Milford, Ohio/Milford) finished 28^th to lead the Tigers, finishing the 5k course in 20:30.8. Sophomore Erin Hord (Madison, Ohio/Madison) was next in 39^th on a time of 20:46.6 and sophomore Hannah Meier (North Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon) was third for the team in 57^th place.  

Scholarship programs Findlay and Ohio Dominican took two of the top three positions, with the Oilers of Findlay crowned as champions. Otterbein was the top Division III team, finishing in second place.

The Tigers lace up next at the Denison Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Granville, Ohio, with the women's race scheduled for 11 a.m. and the men's for 11:45 a.m.

John Strawn '07