Walny Breaks Record At Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener

Friday, September 7

Bowling Green, Ohio

5:00 PM

Bowling Green State University

Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener

September 07, 2018 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

By: by Kyle Edmond, BGSU Athletics

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - Despite a few raindrops, the Falcons' first home meet of the year was a success. After starting strong at the Toledo Rockets Invitational last week, BGSU's Cross Country teams were able to carry the momentum into the 31st Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener. Noah Schaub led the men's team with a first place finish, while Rachel Walny came in second for the women with a photo finish to conclude the event.

Photo Gallery

The Field
Both the men and women's races had 31 participants from Bowling Green and Toledo making for a tight and competitive field for both races. This was the second time that the Falcons faced the Rockets in a meet this year, and both times the competition has been close. Toledo won the women's race, but BGSU was able to take the win for the men's side of the event, ending with a score of 23 to beat Toledo's 36.

Women's 5k Event

Senior Rachel Walny led the way for the Falcons, missing first place by only :00.5 while setting a new school record for the 5k with a time of 17:06.5. This beat her previous time of 17:09.9 from last year's Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. When she obtained the record last year, it was the second race of the year and in late-September. This was Walny's first race of the year, making the record even more impressive and demonstrating that she is poised for another great season.
The next finisher for the Falcons was freshman Katerina Shuble in ninth, who participated unattached for the second consecutive race. Shuble was able to finish with a time of 18:17.3. In terms of placing, she was able to improve five spots from her 14th place finish at the Toledo Rockets Invitational.
Not far behind was sophomore Jessi Lindstrom, who came in 11th with a time of 18:25.3 with fellow sophomore Sarah Hunsley crossing the line just behind her in 12th with a time of 18:29.2. Hunsley, who participated unattached, recorded a new personal best in the 5k, improving by more than 18 seconds from her previous best, which was at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational a year ago.
The Falcons also had Megan Aalberts, Allison Holahan, and Allie Zofkie compete in the orange and brown with Olivia Clymer and Lauren Jackson running unattached.

Walny has now recorded a new school record in the 5k in three consecutive seasons. The first time came at the Louisville Cross Country Classic in her sophomore year. She then beat the record again last year at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational, only to do it again this year at the Mel Brodt Collegiate Opener.

WOMEN'S FULL RESULTS

Men's 5k Event

Senior Noah Schaub crossed the finish line with a first place finish, his second top two finish in as many races. Schaub was also able to improve his personal best in the 5k by more than 5 seconds, with a new best of 15:25.0. His previous best was at the Mel Brodt last year.
Close behind Schaub, in second, was fellow senior Tyler Phillips, who was also able to record a new personal best. Phillips' time of 15:31.7 was an incredible improvement of 19 seconds over his previous personal best in the 5k, recorded at last year's Mel Brodt. Schaub and Phillips paced the front of the pack together for most of the race, resulting in both of their outstanding times.
BGSU's next runner to finish was freshman Cesar Arellano who was able to secure a fifth place finish, in just his second collegiate race, with a time of 15:42.0. Last week, he finished in eighth at the Toledo Rockets Invitational, giving him a great start to his collegiate career.
The Falcons had a few more personal bests in addition to Schaub and Phillips. Paul Garbarino was able to trim off more than 24 seconds with a new best of 15:55.4. Raymond Berling was also able to record a new personal best with a new time of 16:25.6, a 14 second improvement.
All of the Falcons placed in the Top 15. Kyle Hibinger, Gabe Garbarino, Paul Garbarino and Abel Nijakowski placed in 7th through 10th respectively. Right behind them were Jonathan Wenning and Jonathan Voth in 11th and 12th with Raymond Berling rounding out the BGSU runners in 15th.

This was the second consecutive year that Noah Schaub finished in first at the Mel Brodt, with two Falcons joining him in the top five in both years. At last year's event, the orange and brown had five runners place in the top five. This year that improved with BGSU claiming seven of the top ten spots.

MEN'S FULL RESULTS

Up Next
Next, the men's team will travel to Indiana State for the John McNichols Invitational on September 15. Their race is set to begin at 9:00am. The women's team will have an off week as they prepare for their next meet on September 29, which is currently set to be the Greater Louisville Classic.

Follow The Falcons
Be sure to follow the Falcons cross country teams throughout the season on social media.
Twitter – @BGAthletics and @BG_XCTrack
Instagram – 'bgfalcons' and 'bg_xctrack'
Facebook – 'BGSU Athletics'
YouTube – 'Falcon Athletics'