The bearcats NIRCA cross country season ended last weekend on November 11,2017. The team headed up to East Lansing Michigan, and certainly came prepared to race. The course was flat, and the temperature was cool; perfect conditions for a great race. The cats certainly gave it everything they had Saturday. We had a bearcat in every single one of the six races.
The first race was the men’s junior, senior, and graduate race, five UC jerseys toed the line and all five of them ran a season best time. The bearcats’ long practices and quick workouts certainly paid off. Sean Kane, the president, led the bearcats during this race, pulling off a season best time by almost a minute of 28:09. Nathan Hohulin just missed the 31-minute mark with a time of 31:02. Matt Coalmer and Joshua Dietrich formed a good pack and finished at 31:22 and 31:23 respectively. Ben Paisley was not far behind as he crossed the finish with a time of 33:25 as he concluded his NIRCA career due to his graduation in the spring.
The girl’s junior, senior, and graduate race quickly followed. The bearcats were represented by six individuals in this race. Stephanie Paul, vice president led this race with a time of 27:46. Julia Kraimer was not far behind. (28:29) Shawna Siefker an Jessica Hobart and Hannah Beitzinger and Lily Deller formed two separate packs from the start of the gun. They moved together as a pack and encouraged one another. Shawna Siefker finished with a season best of 29:50, followed closely by Jessica Hobart. (30:02) Hannah and Lily crossed the finish with a time of 32:22 for both. Solid effort put out by the women in the bitter cold.
The men’s champions race was nest. Seven men got to race because as a team the bearcats placed in the top 7 at regionals two weeks prior. For many of the men in this race it was their first year running NIRCA and this is certainly an accomplishment. IF these young men continue practicing and competing the bearcats could make club history in a few short years. Sean Batt and Max Hoffman lead the men finishing with times of 26:24 and 26:25 respectively. Joey Schlich came next at 27:24 earning him a personal season best time. Jack Cordonnier and Bryan Wilson finished close to another with times of 27:36 and 27:35. The top 5 cats helps the team score and place 15th out of 35 teams. Henry Bish and Nicholas DeHaven, finished 6th and 7th for the men 27:57 and 28:10 respectively.
The women’s Champions race had only one runner from UC in it, but this little bearcat is certainly someone who never gives up. Lauren Kemper held on in the top 30th throughout the whole race, and finished remarkably with a time of 23:46. This time not only put her on the UC club record board as the fifth fastest girl, but Lauren also placed 28th overall. This earned her an All-American Award. Lauren becomes one of the few women in club history to get this award. This is only Lauren’s first year on the team, and it is certainly just the beginning of her successful college running career.
Nine men were running in the freshman and sophomore race. These nine men did not let the cold stop them from putting everything on the course at the last NIRCA race of the season. Bryce McGuire led the pack, finishing at 28:21 giving him not only a season best time, but also a career best. The team’s talented singer Adam Faler finished next at 29:32 followed by Brad Greene 29:46. The rest of the men finished as followed: Garrett Satow 30:17, Gunnar Stockman 30:42, Jacob Carlson 31:17, Kaden Wells 31:55, Preston Smith 34:29, and Matt Castele 37:04.
The long race day ended with the women’s freshman and sophomore race. Nicole Haffey and Haley Zint put everything they had on the line as they both earned a career best. Their hard work they put in this season paid off. Nicole Haffey finished with a time of 26:37, and Haley Zint finished at 28:29.
The bearcats’ seasons may have come to a close on Saturday, but now they look their eyes to the track season. The team looks to bring out the largest team in club history on the track side as well. The future for this club looks very bright.
The first race was the men’s junior, senior, and graduate race, five UC jerseys toed the line and all five of them ran a season best time. The bearcats’ long practices and quick workouts certainly paid off. Sean Kane, the president, led the bearcats during this race, pulling off a season best time by almost a minute of 28:09. Nathan Hohulin just missed the 31-minute mark with a time of 31:02. Matt Coalmer and Joshua Dietrich formed a good pack and finished at 31:22 and 31:23 respectively. Ben Paisley was not far behind as he crossed the finish with a time of 33:25 as he concluded his NIRCA career due to his graduation in the spring.
The girl’s junior, senior, and graduate race quickly followed. The bearcats were represented by six individuals in this race. Stephanie Paul, vice president led this race with a time of 27:46. Julia Kraimer was not far behind. (28:29) Shawna Siefker an Jessica Hobart and Hannah Beitzinger and Lily Deller formed two separate packs from the start of the gun. They moved together as a pack and encouraged one another. Shawna Siefker finished with a season best of 29:50, followed closely by Jessica Hobart. (30:02) Hannah and Lily crossed the finish with a time of 32:22 for both. Solid effort put out by the women in the bitter cold.
The men’s champions race was nest. Seven men got to race because as a team the bearcats placed in the top 7 at regionals two weeks prior. For many of the men in this race it was their first year running NIRCA and this is certainly an accomplishment. IF these young men continue practicing and competing the bearcats could make club history in a few short years. Sean Batt and Max Hoffman lead the men finishing with times of 26:24 and 26:25 respectively. Joey Schlich came next at 27:24 earning him a personal season best time. Jack Cordonnier and Bryan Wilson finished close to another with times of 27:36 and 27:35. The top 5 cats helps the team score and place 15th out of 35 teams. Henry Bish and Nicholas DeHaven, finished 6th and 7th for the men 27:57 and 28:10 respectively.
The women’s Champions race had only one runner from UC in it, but this little bearcat is certainly someone who never gives up. Lauren Kemper held on in the top 30th throughout the whole race, and finished remarkably with a time of 23:46. This time not only put her on the UC club record board as the fifth fastest girl, but Lauren also placed 28th overall. This earned her an All-American Award. Lauren becomes one of the few women in club history to get this award. This is only Lauren’s first year on the team, and it is certainly just the beginning of her successful college running career.
Nine men were running in the freshman and sophomore race. These nine men did not let the cold stop them from putting everything on the course at the last NIRCA race of the season. Bryce McGuire led the pack, finishing at 28:21 giving him not only a season best time, but also a career best. The team’s talented singer Adam Faler finished next at 29:32 followed by Brad Greene 29:46. The rest of the men finished as followed: Garrett Satow 30:17, Gunnar Stockman 30:42, Jacob Carlson 31:17, Kaden Wells 31:55, Preston Smith 34:29, and Matt Castele 37:04.
The long race day ended with the women’s freshman and sophomore race. Nicole Haffey and Haley Zint put everything they had on the line as they both earned a career best. Their hard work they put in this season paid off. Nicole Haffey finished with a time of 26:37, and Haley Zint finished at 28:29.
The bearcats’ seasons may have come to a close on Saturday, but now they look their eyes to the track season. The team looks to bring out the largest team in club history on the track side as well. The future for this club looks very bright.