CARMEL, Ind – After a 2020 fall season that featured no NCAA Championships, the UIndy cross country teams have been itching to get back on the course. That day would be on Sept. 3 as they traveled to the north side to Northview Church for the Butler Twilight.
The weather, overcast and cool, provided perfect racing conditions for the Hounds, who took the opportunity to hit multiple PRs among a mostly Division I field. Both teams would finish fifth, with the women's team knocking off the IUPUI Jaguars and the men's team besting the Xavier Musketeers.
Claire Eaton and
Melissa Spencer provided highlight performances for the women. A transfer from Belmont University, Eaton's sixth-place finish (17:54.3) netted a 5k PR in her first race as a Greyhound. Spencer kept the PRs going with a 12th-place finish in 18:22.3, good for a 44-second PR.
Eline Pinter, another transfer making her Greyhound debut, made an impression with a 28th-place finish with a time of 19:06.4. In 36th,
Madelyn Miller crossed at 19:29.4, and
Hannah Stein rounded out the UIndy top five with a PR of 19:30.9.
Hanna Stamm (19:38.7) and
Gabrielle Harrell (19:57.2) finished in 38th and 48th, respectively.
For the men, it was a pack race with the Hounds staying together throughout the race.
Chris Switzer crossed first with a time of 18:43.3 and a PR of his own and his first-ever sub-19 6K.
Andrew Bixler wrapped up his day just 15 seconds past the 19-minute mark with a time of 19:15.5. That mark was 26 seconds faster than his previous 6K best.
The next six finishes saw three Hounds cross the line.
Will Reid coming in at 30th with a time of 19:25.7 set yet another PR for UIndy.
Noah Kurtz, finishing 32nd, kept the PR train rolling in his second-ever collegiate 6K with a 19:32.5 finish.
Blake Ellis' 19:46.6 finish time also netted him a 6K PR and 34th place. To round out the top seven for the men's team was
Nico Barrett and
Devon Whitaker, finishing 39th and 40th.
UP NEXT
The Hounds will stay in the Hoosier State for the Indiana Wesleyan Twilight Invitational in Marion, Ind. Sept. 10.
