CROSS COUNTRY

Facing some of the best competition they will see this year, the Forester men’s cross country team took fifth while the women finished sixth at the IWU Twilight Invitational Friday night.

The men’s 8K featured 131 runners, 70 scored, with Kevin Moser posting a 12th place finish by clocking in at 27:02.0 (5:26.3/mile). Nick Childs crossed the line next for HU in 27:57.2 for 25th place.

Adrien Gentie took 30th in 28:35.6. Rounding out the scoring for Coach Johnson’s crew was Aaron Hendryx (35th, 28:49.8) and Kody Ahrens (46th, 29:09.5). Other runners for Huntington included Luke Zeddis (54th, 29:49.7) and Justin Ayers (61st, 30:31.4).

Indiana Wesleyan tallied 36 points to claim the title followed by Taylor (43), Ohio Christian (108), Goshen (109), HU (148), Tiffin (167), Grace (193), Mount Vernon (198), Saint Francis (221) and IU Kokomo (251).

In the women’s 5K, just over two minutes separated HU’s top five runners with Aspen Dirr leading the pack by turning in a 20:14.7 for 23rd place out of 126 runners, 69 scored. Saige Norris crossed the line next in 20:21.0 for 24th.

Olivia Von Gunten (21:29.7) and Bianca Tisdale (21:33.5) ran to a 39th and 40th place finish. Lauren Craig rounded out HU’s scoring with a 54th place finish in 22:23.7. Other runners for Huntington included Isabel Hunter (58th, 22:53.8) and Molly Mitchell (63rd, 23:36.0).

Taylor, ranked 2nd nationally, took first with 24 points followed by Ball State (40), Mount Vernon (111), Indiana Wesleyan (131), Saint Francis (180), Huntington (180), IU Kokomo (180), Ohio Christian (189), Grace (237) and Tiffin (277).

Huntington was one of three teams to log 180 points. The tie-breaker was based on the finish of each team’s No. 6 runner. USF’s sixth runner finished 49th to HU’s 58th to IU Kokomo’s 60th which is reflected in the final standings.

Johnson’s crew is off until September 21 when they compete in the Taylor Invitational.