The Northern Kentucky University men’s and women’s cross country teams opened the season Saturday by hosting the Queen City Invitational at the Valhalla Cross Country Course in Highland Heights.
It marked the first time in 39 years that a cross country meet had been held on the NKU campus. Prior to Saturday, the last collegiate cross country meet hosted on the NKU campus was on Sept. 8, 1979.
NKU’s men’s team took fifth place on Saturday with 125 points, while the women’s squad placed ninth with 233 points. Dayton took first place in the men’s standings with 37 points, followed by Kentucky (77), Xavier (93), Cincinnati (112) and NKU to round out the top five.
Ohio State, Eastern Kentucky, Marshall, Wright State and Morehead State also competed in the Division I event.
Alec Sandusky was NKU’s top individual finisher (12th place) with a time of 15:45.70 in the five-kilometer run. Cincinnati’s Andrew Schille took first-place honors with a time of 15:21.9.
In the women’s event, Ohio State took first place with a score of 68. Eastern Kentucky placed second (74 points) and Xavier took third place with 87 points.
Hannah Tobler was the top runner for the Norse, crossing the finish line in 27th place with a time of 18:48.20.
(NKU Athletics Communications)