GRANVILLE, Ohio - The Wittenberg men's and women's cross country teams placed ninth and eighth, respectively, at the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championship meet, hosted by Denison University at Infirmary Mound Park.
Wittenberg's top individual finisher was sophomore Jon Osman (Troy, Ohio/Troy), who crossed the finish line of the men's 8K race in 27:08 to finish 16th among the field of 103 runners and earn Honorable Mention All-NCAC status for the second straight year. Osman's is the highest individual finish for a male Tiger since Kevin Frick finished 16th in 2009, just nine seconds off Osman's pace. Last year, Osman posted a 21st-place finish.
Amongst the men's top finishers was senior Adam Kapuscinski (Cincinnati, Ohio/Sycamore), who finished 47th in a time of 28:58, followed by sophomore Ethan Raines (Maineville, Ohio/Little Miami), who crossed the line in a time of 29:47 for a 69th-place finish. He was followed closely by junior Courtland Johnson (Versailles, Ky./Woodford County) in 76th with a finishing time of 30:16.
The final pack of Tigers to cross the line were led by sophomore Chase Gage (Columbus, Ohio/Grandview) in 82nd, senior Austin Butler (Carroll, Ohio/Bloom Carroll) in 83rd, and sophomore Kevin Stewart (Springfield, Ohio/Emmanuel Christian) in 84th.
On the women's side the lead Tiger was sophomore Erin Hord (Madison, Ohio/Madison), finishing the 6K course in just 26:23 for a 53rd-place finish. Coming across the line just a minute later at a time of 27:23 was junior Lorin Conti (Milford, Ohio/Milford) as she grabbed a finish of 69th. On her heels was sophomore Hannah Meier (North Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon) for a time of 27:25, earning her 70th place.
Leading the second wave was junior Megan Heitkemper (Maineville, Ohio/Kings) in a time of 27:57, followed closely by sophomore Kalie McDorman (Springfield, Ohio/Kenton Ridge) with a time of 27:58; Heitkemper took 80th and McDorman finished 81st. Junior Megan Bittinger (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Christian) finished 82nd, sophomore Korie Sharrar (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) finished 83rd, and junior Sarah Ellis (Grove City, Ohio/Grove City) finished 85th.
As the cold day opening day of November concluded it was once again Wabash running away with their fourth straight NCAC title in the men's race. Oberlin continued to dominate the annual women's competition, claiming their sixth straight conference championship.
The Wittenberg men's and women's teams will both be in action again at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional, hosted by Wilmington College in Mason, Ohio, at the Golf Center at King's Island.
Written by: AJ Meyer '15