Oct. 3, 2009

Team Results
Individual Results

CHICAGO - Behind five runners in the top 20, the Miami University men’s cross country team claimed the 37th annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational title Saturday morning at Montrose Beach along Chicago’s north shore for its first title of 2009. The 8K race, which had 39 teams running and 408 competitors, was hosted by Loyola University Chicago.

Senior Kevin Silver (Beachwood, Ohio) was the RedHawks’ top finisher for the third time this season (every race), earning individual runner-up honors in 24:58. Silver was just seven ticks behind individual champion Jed Christiansen of the Calvin Alumni team.

Miami’s 2 though 5 finishers had just an eight-second spread between them, as redshirt freshman David Eichenberger (Plainfield, Ind.) was second for Miami, crossing the line in 12th place in 25:36. Senior Paul Krebs (Kettering, Ohio) placed 14th just two seconds later, while fellow senior Adam Martin (Chesterton, Ind.) was 18th, scoring for the ’Hawks for the first time this season. Junior Michael Perry (Cincinnati, Ohio) rounded out Miami’s scoring five in 20th place in 25:44. Redshirt sophomore Brian Gallagher (Westlake, Ohio) was the sixth finisher for the Red and White, crossing in 28th.

“They handled the large field very well as it was a massive race with the number of runners,” head coach Warren Mandrell said. “It was really crowded and bumpy at the start and then it narrowed down, but once they got out of the crowd, the guys were real patient. They ran intelligently, reeling people back in, and ran strongly in the last half of the race. Our whole pack moved up together and zoomed through the group.”

Host Loyola Chicago was second in the team standings with 82 points, 20 points behind Miami’s 62-point total, while fellow Mid-American Conference foe Toledo placed fourth. The team title was Miami’s first since winning the Tennessee Invitational Sept. 19 of last year.

“The strength of our team is our pack,” Mandrell said. “Today it was up at the front of the group and they ran very well together. We had a bunch of Chicago alumni here to support us, as well, which was great to see.”

The RedHawks take two weeks off before returning to competition Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Pre-NCAA Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind.

--MURedHawks.com--

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