Men's Cross Country opens season with victory at Bluffton 6k

Men's Cross Country opens season with victory at Bluffton 6k
September 4, 2015

By Tim Glon

BLUFFTON — Ohio Northern took seven of the top nine places to open the season with a victory at the Bluffton 6k men's cross country race Friday evening at the Bluffton Nature Center.

The Polar Bears (4-0) won the 5-team meet with 22 points, Tiffin was second with 77 points, Bluffton was third with 87 points, Ohio Christian was fourth with 157 points and Lourdes was fifth with 162 points.

A team of ONU alumni finished with 62 points and would have been second in the meet.

Senior Eric Wymer led Ohio Northern across the finish line, finishing second out of 83 runners in 19:19.

Junior Andrew Harden was third in 19:26, senior Matt Ernstes was fourth in 19:27, junior Kase Schalois was sixth in 19:37 and freshman Ian McVey was seventh in 19:47.

James Ngandu of Tiffin won the race in 19:18, narrowly edging Wymer by one second at the finish line.

The Polar Bears will return to action Sept. 12 at the Calvin (Mich.) Invitational.

Team Standings

1. Ohio Northern 22, 2. Ohio Northern Alumni 62, 3. Tiffin 77, 4. Bluffton 87, 5. Ohio Christian 157, 6. Lourdes 162.

Top 5 Individuals

1. James Ngandu (Tif) 19:18, 2. Eric Wymer (ONU) 19:19, 3. Andrew Harden (ONU) 19:26, 4. Matthew Ernstes 19:27 (ONU), 5. Nathan Rosenbaum (ONUA) 19:34.

Ohio Northern Individual Results

2. Eric Wymer 19:19, 3. Andrew Harden 19:26, 4. Matt Ernstes 19:27, 6. Kase Schalois 19:37, 7. Ian McVey 19:47, 8. Bobby Borger 19:49, 9. Matt Molinaro 19:50, 11. Cameron Rusnak 19:57, 13. Jonathan Wherry 20:05, 14. Spencer Schulte 20:05, 15. Adam Berry 20:07, 17. Dan Sowa 20:10, 18. Andrew Kurtz 20:15, 21. Samuel Boyd 20:22, 22. Michael Potter 20:25, 24. Ian McKee 20:29, 25. William Huddleston 20:30, 26. Collin Kemner 20:36, 27. Tyler Kennedy 20:36, 30. Eric Collins 21:01, 31. Dominic Solis 21:02, 34. Alec Lunney 21:07, 35. Evan Murtha 21:08, 39. Chester Swartzmiller 21:17, 45. John McNutt 21:25, 46. Auston Davenport 21:34, 48. Logan Perry 21:41, 53. Michael Murray 21:51, 64. Dustin Lumadue 23:14, 66. Jacob Gallaher 23:34, 71. Collin Shaver 24:27.