Panning Finishes Third, Foust Fifth in BGSU Debut as Falcons Open 2026

Friday, September 4

Bowling Green, Ohio

10 a.m.

Bowling Green State University

Mel Brodt Collegiate Open

Panning Finishes Third, Foust Fifth in BGSU Debut as Falcons Open 2026

September 04, 2026 | Women's Cross Country

Results

By: by Sam Watson, BGSU Strategic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Falcons opened their 2026 season with a dual meet on their home turf against Ohio at the Mel Brodt Invitational. While the Bobcats won, 22-34, the Falcons still turned in impressive performances from returners and newcomers alike.

Maggie Foust and Lexi Panning started strong and held their positions through to the finish. Panning, a junior, finished third overall and set a personal record in the 5K, crossing in 18:02.4.

"Lexi is coming off a rough patch with sickness, so I don't think we saw 100% of her today," said head coach Lou Snelling. "But if that's going to happen, it might as well be at this point in the season."

Foust, a transfer from Northern Kentucky, finished fifth in her BGSU debut (18:18.12).

"Maggie was awesome," Snelling said. "She's come in and made an immediate impact you love to see. She's a great person as well, just so positive, and the work ethic is through the roof. So it was cool to see her have a nice day."

Following the duo were Marissa Boone and Morgan Weichman. The two crossed in tandem, taking seventh (18:34.2) and eighth (18:34.8), respectively.

Nora Ritting notched an 11th-place finish in 18:53.3, a personal record for the senior. Freshmen Leah Corby (12th, 18:59.1) and Lily Good (14 th, 19:21.4) rounded out the scoring for the Falcons.

Madison Foster crossed the line at 19:25.7, and Anna Buddelmeyer closed out the day for Bowling Green in 19:55.8.

BGSU will travel to Kalamazoo, Michigan, for its next meet, the George Dales Invite, on Sept. 18.

"We have Western Michigan coming up. It'll be our first women's 6K and men's 8K. Just seeing that growth in that time frame, that's all there for us," Snelling said. "We'll see more of the team as well in two weeks. Not everybody was out there today, so we'll get a truer picture when we head to Kalamazoo."