Falcons Race On National Championship Course

Saturday, October 19

Terre Haute, Ind.

11:00 AM

Bowling Green State University

ISU Pre-National Invitational

October 19, 2013 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

By: by Jason Knavel, Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications

Women's Results (.pdf)
Men's Results (.pdf)

Terre Haute, Ind. – Jason Salyer ran his first sub 25-minute 8,000-meter cross country race and placed seventh out of 135 runners at the Indiana State Pre-National Invitational Saturday at Indiana State. The BGSU women's cross country team placed 16th out of 35 teams on the same course that the NCAA National Championships will be raced, finishing ahead of Mid-American Conference rivals Akron and Kent State.

In the men's race, Salyer was the top MAC individual finisher, ahead of all competitors from Ohio, Kent State and Toledo. His time of 24:56.94 was more than 13 seconds faster than his previous collegiate best of 25:10.64 at the All-Ohio Championships two weeks ago. Salyer was less than one second behind Clemson's top finisher for sixth place and was less than 10 seconds out of the top four.

"Jason continues to prove that he belongs in the top tier of the Mid-American Conference," Assistant Coach Eric Thatcher said.

Following Salyer, Greg Black placed 75^th with a time of 26:19.19 and Tim Jurick was 122^nd in 27:20.43.

On the women's side, Andrea Alt led a balanced performance from the Falcons as the team finished in the top half at 16^th out of 35 competing teams. Alt set a new personal best in the 6,000-meter distance by 11 seconds with a time of 21:46.02. Rebecca Rae followed in 97^th place with a time of 22:42.36 and the next four BGSU finishers all set personal bests.

Rachel Durbin (22:44.27) was eight seconds faster than her previous record and Brittney Darah pushed her PR up eight seconds in 22:46.78. Mackenzie McMillin's 22:56.70 was four seconds faster than she had previously run and Maria Meredith shattered her PR by 35 seconds with a time of 23:07.68.

"Andrea took a nice step today and has put herself in a good place heading into the MAC Championships," BGSU Head Coach Lou Snelling said. "The team had their first experience with this type of meet at the collegiate level. We did not put it together 1-through-5 the way we will need to on Nov. 2 for the MAC Championships."

As a team, the Falcons scored 440 points, just four points behind Charlotte and only 17 behind MAC opponent Eastern Michigan. Akron was 18^th with 472 points and Kent State was 32^nd.

BGSU is now off until hosting the MAC Championships Nov. 2 at 11 am. The meet takes place at Forrest Creason Golf Course on campus.

INDIANA STATE PRE-NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
WOMEN: BGSU 16TH/35
Individual Results – 22. Andrea Alt 21:46.02, 97. Rebecca Rae 22:42.36, 101. Rachel Durbin 22:44.27, 103. Brittney Darah 22:46.78, 122. Mackenzie McMillin 22:56.70, 136. Maria Meredith 23:07.68, 143. Amanda Garlak 23:14.02
Open Results – 82. Heather Baruxes 24:03.61

MEN: BGSU 20TH/20
Individual Results – 7. Jason Salyer 24:56.94, 75. Greg Black 26:19.19, 122. Tim Jurick 27:20.43, 130. Jeremy Richard 27:51.69, 131. Joe van Bolderen 28:07.21, 134. Logan Pitcher 30:00.60