The Heidelberg men’s and women’s cross-country teams opened their seasons Saturday at the Ohio Northern University 2012 Cross Country Polar Bear Invitational. The women finished in second and the men finished third.
The Heidelberg women were led by senior Bobbi Custer (Woodstock/Triad) who completed the women’s 4k course in a time of 15:02.70. Junior Sophie Goobic (Canton N.Y./Hugh C. Williams) was not far off of Custer’s pace however, finishing with a time of 15:10.40. Respectively, Custer and Goobic placed fourth and tenth out of a field of 55 competitors.
Freshmen Erica Miller (Enon/Greenon) and Lorin Conti (Milford) ran well in their first collegiate cross-country meet turning in a time of 16:10.60 and 16:11.10 respectively.
“Bobbi and Sophie led our girls very well and Miller and Conti showed great strength as well,” said head coach Briana Hess. “We (the women’s team) hope to be in the top half of the conference by the end of the season and of we do this, it will keep us moving in the right direction.”
For the Heidelberg men, junior David Kindall (Sullivan/Black River) set the pace with a time of 20:03.20 earning Kindall an 11th place out of a field of 69 competitors. Not far behind Kindall was freshman Brad Palocko (Medina) who completed the 6k men’s course in a time of 20:03.30.
“David and Brad set the tone for our team from the gun,” said Hess. “With those two continuing to move up and our other guys doing the same by gaining strength and confidence, the sky is the limit.”
Sophomore Carson Schaffer (Okemos, MI./Okemos) finished in 20:16.60, senior Dustin Kuess (Coldwater) finished with a time of 20:24.80 and freshman Avery Gatchell (Fostoria/Hopewell-Loudon) competed the course in 20:42.70.
The Heidelberg cross-country team will travel to Delaware to compete in the Ohio Wesleyan University Invitational on September 8, 2012