Switzer and Krick Tabbed as HCAC Runners of the Week

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Defiance College cross country team was well represented in the latest press release published by the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, with Kaitlin Switzer and Hayden Krick each receiving the HCAC Runner-of-the-Week award. [Release]

Switzer and Krick have been instrumental in the early successes of their respective teams, which have combined to record four first-place finishes over the last three weeks.

Switzer led the women's harriers to their second team title of the season on Friday, September 24, with a dominating win at the Bluffton Dual Meet, in which the Jackets accounted for each of the top-five finishers. The Defiance, Ohio native claimed her second individual title of the season at the race, and has now led the Yellow Jackets for nine-consecutive events, dating back to September 25, 2009. Earlier in the season, Switzer set a new personal-record with a time of 19:56 at the Yellow Jacket Open, as she led the Jackets to their first team title at home on record.

Krick has been equally impressive, with two individual titles and two team titles to start the season. The sophomore harrier has led the Yellow Jackets in every race this season, and tied the Defiance College cross country course record on September 11, as he led the men's squad to their first team title on home soil in school history. More recently, Krick paced the Yellow Jackets at the Bluffton Dual Meet, where they recorded the lowest possible team score (6), and accounted for six of the top-seven times at the meet.  

Both cross country teams will continue their season on Friday, October 1, when they travel to Cedarville, Ohio to compete in the All-Ohio Championships.