Defiance posts six personal bests at Tiffelberg Invite

TIFFIN, Ohio - On Friday night, six personal records were set as the Defiance College Yellow Jackets men's and women's cross country programs each claimed fifth place at the Tiffelberg Invite. The meet is the second of the season for DC and was hosted by Tiffin University at the Paradiso Athletic Complex. 

Freshman Yafet Mehari led the men's team for the second-straight week with a new personal 5k best, a time of 17:57.2 and in 41st place, nearly a minute-and-a-half quicker than the meet before. Senior Eli Fortman came 10 spots behind in 51st with a personal-best time of 19:22.4. Freshman Brenden Patterson also added a new personal record in the third spot for Defiance at 19:54.1 and 54th place, as well as sophomore J'Vontae Barnes. 

The women's team finishing order nearly mimicked last week's with Adeline Niyonkunda leading the pack of five. The sophomore came in at 27th for the Yellow Jackets with a 5k time of 22:13.1, a new personal best. Three spots behind was sophomore Zawadi Debola who completed the course in 23:02.1 – another best. 

Women

27- Adeline Niyonkunda, 22:13.1 (PR) 

30- Zawadi Debola, 23:02.1 (PR)

34- Mira Horvath, 23:18.9 

49- Israa Khamis, 30:55.4 

50- Rakel Thompson, 35:23.6

Men

41- Yafet Mehari, 17:57.2 (PR)

51- Eli Fortman, 19:22.4 (PR)

54- Brenden Patterson, 19:54.1 (PR)

56- Jake Stephens, 20:11.6

59- J'Vontae Barnes, 20:33.6 (PR) 

UP NEXT

Defiance College will resume its season on Sept. 13 at the Otterbein XC Invite, hosted by Otterbein University at the Lehman Cross Country Course in Westerville, Ohio. The women run at 10 a.m. and the men begin at 10:45 a.m.

-JACKETS-