UU Runners Open Season at Flyer 5K

DAYTON, Ohio (September 1, 2012) - The Urbana University cross country teams opened a new season under a new head coach at the Dayton Flyer 5K on Saturday morning.  Running under muggy conditions against NCAA Division I, II and III competition, the Blue Knights showed early promise while allowing room for improvement in 2012.  First-year coach Kevin Horne saw a pair of newcomers pace his squad, as each team took 3rd out of 3 teams in the small college division.

Junior transfer Dylan McCubbin led the men's team with a time of 20:37, averaging about 4 minutes per 1000 meters.  Fellow junior Patrick Malloy was right behind McCubbin at 20:47.  Another junior, two-sport student-athlete Josh Brown, came in at 22:25, and Blue Knights Ryan Castle and Jordan Perry rounded out Urbana's scoring with times of 23:30 and 25:25, respectively.

On the women's side, Urbana was paced by freshman Jackie Smith.  Smith just narrowly missed out on a top 10 time at UU by 9 seconds, finishing in 25:29.  She averaged just over 5 minutes per 1,000 meters, grabbing 26th place in a small college field of 35.

Another freshman finished second for the Blue Knights in her first collegiate race.  Jade Roark crossed the line at 27:19 in an impressive debut.  Senior Sara White took third on the team with a time of 27:32, and last year's Female Runner of the Year as a freshman, Melissa Bell, came in at 28:51. 

Veterans Jessica Thomas and Kaylen Diemer rounded out the Blue Knights' scoring with times of 34:13 and 35:05, respectively.  Next Saturday morning, the Blue Knights run at Ohio Wesleyan University.  It will be the men's first 8K of the season. (Flyer 5K men's results) (Flyer 5K women's results)