BARTLESVILLE, Okla. (9-14-09) – The Oklahoma Wesleyan Cross Country team participated in their second meet of the season on Friday, as they headed north to Goddard, Kan., for the 2009 Friends University Invitational. It was not the ideal running conditions, as it was extremely muggy and the course was soggy following a heavy rain, but the OKWU runners battled to make a showing.
Leading the way for the Eagles at the meet was sophomore David Rannabarger who finished 34 out of 117 runners with a time of 28:26, just under three minutes from the top runner in the race. Devon Arredondo finished just over two minutes behind Rannabarger with a time of 30:37.
Other Eagle men finishing in the traditionally tough meet were R.J. McClain at 30:52, followed by Kirk Taylor at 31:13, and Rich Brown with a time of 35:04.
The winner in the men’s 8k race finished with a time of 25:52.48.
In the women’s 5k race, Micah Jenner was the top Lady Eagle runner, finishing the race with a time of 21:48, placing her in the 45th, three minutes behind the race winner at 18:36. The women’s race included 128 competitors taking part.
Kenzi Roth was the second Lady Eagle to cross the line in the race, finishing with a time of 22:35. Other Lady Eagle finishers include Lisa Lord with a time of 22:56, Sunshine Wharton at 23:22, Janette Young with a time of 24:10, and Andrea Walkingstick at the 25:22 mark.
Allie Ardery finished the 3.1 mile course six seconds behind Walkingstick and Hannah Hensel followed her just three seconds later at 25:32. Rounding out the Lady Eagles runners were Chelsea Mower (25:49), Shannon Coutouris (26:27), Cassie Drake (28:59) and April Torres (31:01).
The Lady Eagles finished the event in 13 in the standings, ahead of fellow National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics squads Sterling College (Kan.) and Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The men placed 8th, ahead of Bethel College (Kan.) and Allen County Community College (Kan.).