DAYTON, Ohio—The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams kicked off their 2021 season on Friday (Sept. 3) at the Mike Baumer Cross Country Classic at Fairborn Community Park. The women's team took first place, while graduate student Josh Park (Amherst, Ohio) took the top individual spot on the men's side. 

The women's team took first place with a score of 31 points and a combined time of 1:30:50.0. Sophomore Sophia Hoersten led the way, clocking a time of 17:51.8 and finishing second. Graduate student Hailey Bowes (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and senior Madelyn Bartolone (Massillon, Ohio) secured third and fourth, coming in at 17:57.4 and 18:01.1. Senior Stephanie Pierce (Fairborn, Ohio) came in ninth with a time of 18:23.3, while sophomore Kenna Loveless took 13^th with a 18:37.2. Freshmen Kelsi Harris and Theresa Hagey were not scored but finished immediately after Loveless with times of 18:37.2 and 18:37.7.

The men placed third overall, totaling 73 points. Park took first place at yesterday's meet, clocking a 14:49.5 and finishing over 25 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. Junior Michael Tonkovich came in 10^th with a 15:24.5, while graduate student Seth Gard (Eaton, Ohio) ran a 15:30.8 and placed 16^th. 

The Bobcats will head to Cedarville, Ohio where they will compete in the All-Ohio Cross Country Championship on Sept. 17.

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