Buckeyes Take the Title at Mountaineer Open – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
BOONE, N.C. – The Ohio State men’s cross country team started its 2009 campaign with a bang Friday evening, placing six runners in the Top 10 en route to an easy victory at the Mountaineer Open.
A 27 point total secured the title for the Scarlet and Gray. Queens placed second with 41 points, followed by host Appalachian State with 68 points. Clemson (106) took fourth.
The win put a wrap on 11 days of grueling preseason training in Blowing Rock, N.C. Head coach Robert Gary was happy with his squad’s effort:
“I was very pleased with the team today,” he said after the race. “They competed on some heavy legs after the hardest run of the summer Wednesday at training camp.”
Jeff See, competing in his first collegiate cross country event in two years, led the way for the Buckeyes on the 6.4k course, crossing the finish line in 19:54.27. Sophomore Taylor Williams (fourth in 20:06.81) and freshman Julian Meyer (fifth in 20:07.86) joined See in the Top 5.
Senior Christopher Olinger placed seventh in 20:13.81, followed by Donny Roys (ninth in 20:17.49) and Adam Green (10th in 20:26.16).
Rounding out scoring for the Buckeyes was Chad Balyo, who, like See, was competing for the first time since the 2007 season. Balyo finished 16th in 20:47.51.
“I feel very confident in our full team this year,” Gary said. “This is among the deepest team of high quality guys we’ve had in a long time. It could be a special season.”
Ohio State returns to action Oct. 2 at the All-Ohio championships in Delaware, Ohio.
