AKRON, Ohio – The Ohio men's and women's cross country teams opened up the 2023 season at the University of Akron's 54th Annual Tommy Evans Invitational on Friday, Sept. 1. The Bobcats earned several impressive finishes with the women's team placing second and the men placing seventh.
The women's team recorded 65 points behind four top 20 finishes. The first Bobcat to cross the finish line was sophomore Leila Boussedra (18.05.5/Worthington, Ohio) who placed third overall. Junior Sarah Liederbach (18.13.2/Petoskey, Mich.) came in fifth, while fifth years, Carina Weaver (18.31.9/Lexington, Ohio) and Bailey Roberts (18.52.8/North Kingsville, Ohio) finished in 11th and 20th place overall.
Sophomores Sara Doughman (19.00.7/South Lebanon, Ohio), Morgan Roth (19.09.1/Brunswick, Ohio), senior Kenna Loveless (19.20.6/Tallmadge, Ohio) and sophomore Hope Oelkrug (19.22.9/Liberty Center, Ohio) all contributed points with top 50 finishes.
The men's team tallied 131 points, tying Malone, but falling to the seventh spot due to losing the tiebreaker. The Bobcats were led by senior Tony Tonkovich (18.33.6/Athens, Ohio), who recorded a fourth-place finish. Following behind Tonkovich were sophomores Rocco DeVincent (18.51.8/Morgantown, W. Va.) and Sam Beeler (18.51.8/Cincinnati, Ohio) in 13th and 29th place. Junior Jake Ethridge (19.28.5/Lewis Center, Ohio) and freshman Ryan Blohm (19.34.0/ Morgantown, W. Va.) tallied points for the Bobcats, finishing 44th and 49th.
Up next, the Bobcats will travel to Bowling Green, Ohio to compete in the Mel Brodt Collegiate Open on Sept. 15.
