Akron men capture team title at Virginia Tech Alumni Invite; Women place fifth

Friday, September 18

University of Akron

Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational

Akron men capture team title at Virginia Tech Alumni Invite; Women place fifth

September 18 | Cross Country

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MEN'S RESULTS (PDF) | WOMEN'S RESULTS (PDF)

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The University of Akron men's cross country team placed five runners in the top 13 at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invite on Friday, Sept. 18, to spark the Zips to the team title, while the Akron women's squad earned a fifth-place showing.

"Fantastic execution of our race plan," Akron head men's coach Lee LaBadie commented. "Our top six men had 28-second split and our sixth man beat FSU's fifth man to give us the win. It was a great team effort."

Senior Kyle Cochrun (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) led the Zips to a one-point victory over Florida State in the men's race crossing the line in 24:52.58 to place third in the 8K.

The Seminoles came into the race ranked 26th nationally in the latest United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) cross country poll released on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Akron also bested the host Hokies, who were receiving votes in the national poll.

Freshman Joe Rossetti (Stow. Ohio) turned in his second consecutive impressive showing to begin his collegiate career finishing eighth in 25:02.30.

Junior Dan Zupan (Berea, Ohio), senior Trevor Norris (Avon Lake, Ohio) and sophomore Garrett Crichlow (Twinsburg, Ohio) rounded out the top-five efforts for Akron crossing the line in 25:05.29, 25:06.60 and 25:07.91 to place 10th, 11th and 13th, respectively.

Senior Aaron Howkins (Stow, Ohio), sophomore Eric McCabe (Hilliard, Ohio) and freshman Jeremiah Fitzgerald (Mantua, Ohio) capped the Zips' performances in the meet finishing the 8K in 25:20.87(26th), 26:27.17 (70th) and 26:38.55 (80th).

Senior Jillian Roth (North Canton, Ohio) directed the efforts for the Zips in the women's race placing 21st in 22:16.49.

Redshirt sophomores Alexandra Blair (Akron, Ohio) and Sarah Kupniewski (Erie, Pa.) were next across the line for Akron finishing 38th (23:19.55) and 39th (23:20.35), respectively.

Redshirt junior Abbie Shea (Salem, Ohio), freshman Morgan Buckley (Howland, Ohio), redshirt sophomore Tara Snipes (Covington, Ohio), freshmen Tarike Osuobeni (Columbus, Ohio) and Lauren Seas (Coldwater, Ohio) and redshirt junior Karlie Lieberth (Mantua, Ohio) rounded out the performances for the Zips finishing the race in 23:30.22 (46th), 24:08.53 (68th), 24:16.94 (72nd), 24:20.69 (74th), 24:33.36 (79th) and 25:38.11 (94th).

The Zips return to competition at the All-Ohio Championships in Cedarville, Ohio on Oct. 2.

AKRON MEN'S RESULTS:

Kyle Cochrun (24:52.58/3rd), Joe Rosetti (25:02.30/8th), Dan Zupan (25:05.29/10th), Trevor Norris (25:06.60/11th), Garrett Crichlow (25:07.91/13th), Aaron Howkins (25:20.87/26th), Eric McCabe (26:27.17/70th), Jeremiah Fitzgerald (26:38.55/80th)

AKRON MEN'S TEAM RESULTS:

1) Akron (42)

2) Florida State (43)

3) Virginia Tech (98)

4) Cincinnati (128)

5) VMI (134)

6) Ohio (140)

7) East Tennessee State (144)

8) Indiana (Pa.) (178)