In the men’s race, Malone College easily out-distanced the 39-team field as the Pioneers’ top five runners all finished in the top 13 including three in the top four as Malone finished with 32 points to claim its first All-Ohio title since winning four straight titles from 1989-1992. The University of Cincinnati was second with 90 points, while Ohio University was third with 179 points. The Cougars finished 29th with 861 points to finish ahead of three NAIA schools and seven NCAA Division III schools.

Ryan Kienzle of Malone won the men’s race in 25:13 to edge teammate Nik Schweikert (25:20) for the individual title. Sophomore Mark Porostosky led MVNU with a time of 28:07 as he finished 82nd out of 250 runners in the eight-kilometer race. Freshmen Chaz Rice (left) (159th, 29:43), Zach Stiverson (176th, 30:18), and David Clark (219th, 33:06), sophomores Dustin Wine (225th, 33:42) and Zach Tuggle (228th, 34:05), and senior Tim Grubb (231st, 35:33) rounded out the scoring for the Cougars.

In the women’s race, Miami University (75 points) edged Ohio University (80 points), Akron University (100 points), and the University of Cincinnati (103 points) to win the 44-team event for the first time since 2003. MVNU finished 42nd with 1282 points to finish ahead of Lake Erie College (1305 points) and Hiram College (1334 points) and just behind Ohio Dominican University (1253 points).

Esther Erb of Case Western Reserve University won the women’s race in 18:29 to beat out Laura Neufarth of Miami (18:32) for the individual title. Sophomore Tessa Swartzentruber led the Lady Cougars with a time of 24:55 to finish 242nd out of 290 runners in the five-kilometer race. Junior Mallorey Newland was right behind at 24:56 to finish 243rd, while seniors Katie Tracy (right) (249th, 25:29), Liz Keffer (264th, 26:37), and Bethany Haught (284th, 31:55) and sophomore Brittany Click (290th, 38:01) rounded out the scoring for MVNU.

“I was very pleased with the way that we ran today,” said MVNU head coach Chip Wilson. “The heat and the hills were definitely a challenge as was the big field. We have been improving and getting stronger and are definitely looking forward to the next few weeks.”

“We have been training on hills the last few weeks to get ready for today and that training paid off,” Wilson added. “We were able to compete well on a very challenging course and against some very challenging competition. We are looking forward to the Wilmington meet next week and then the Southeastern Classic in Nashville.”

Both MVNU teams will be back in action next Friday when they travel to the Wilmington College Invitational.