Niyonkunda, Fortman lead XC teams with personal best runs at Bethel
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Defiance College cross country teams competed in their last tune-up of the season before next month's WHAC Championships at the Bethel Invitational on Friday with a pair of runners recording personal best times.
Adeline Niyonkunda led the DC women's team with a 5K run in 21:20.7 and finished 18th overall, beating her previous best time from last month's Tiffelberg Invite by nearly a minute.
On the men's side, Eli Fortman ran the best 8K race of his DC career with a 31:45.6. That time was two minutes faster than his best time in an 8K during last year's cross country season. Jake Stephen came just 18 seconds shy of his best in an 8K race while Yafet Mehari and Brenden Patterson each ran an 8K for the first time in their college careers.
WOMEN'S RESULTS - 5K Race
- Adeline Niyonkunda: 21:20.7 (18th), PR
- Zawadi Debola: 23:58.0 (46th)
- Mira Horvath: 24:54.5 (54th)
- Israa Khamis: 30:24.0 (69th)
- Rakel Thompson: 31:48.1 (71st)
- TEAM: 2:12:25 (207 pts), 8th of 9
MEN'S RESULTS - 8K Race
- Eli Fortman: 31:45.6 (55th), PR
- Yafet Mehari: 32:01.7 (57th)
- Brenden Patterson: 32:58.3 (62nd)
- Jake Stephens: 33:11.5 (64th)
- J'Vontae Barnes: 36:26.3 (76th)
- TEAM: 2:46:23 (255 pts), 9th of 10
UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets run at the WHAC Championship on Friday, Nov. 7 at Siena Heights. The race will be held at Heritage Park in Adrian.
-JACKETS-