The men and women’s cross country teams each had fourth place finishes at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational on Saturday morning.
Cassondra O’Connor led the way for the Pioneers in the women’s 5k, turning in a second place finish with a time of 17:08.00, falling just short of Glennville State’s Natalie Barr (17:06.70).
Aubrey Smith finished 20th with a time of 18:09.00. Lotte Zethof and Alana Dyce-Giraud also competed for Point Park, with Zethof finishing 29th, and Dyce-Giraud placing 32nd.
Edinboro’s women’s team took first place, with Ashland University placing second, and Slippery Rock University taking third ahead of Point Park.
On the men’s side, Elijah Bechdel was the top finisher for the Pioneers, finishing 13th in the men’s 8k with a time of 25:22.40.
“I am very happy with my performance,” Bechdel said. “Not only was it a personal best, but as I felt very comfortable, which is something I’ve been looking for as someone who is still new to 8k races. I definitely have more in the tank, but a top 20 finish is something I’m happy with.”
Point Park had two other runners finishing in the top-25, with Chase Bowen placing 20th (25:37.40), and Luke McKenna 24th (25:43.00).
Ahead of Point Park, West Virginia Wesleyan finished in third place, with Carnegie Mellon University taking second and Ashland University in first.
Ashland’s men’s team turned in an impressive performance, with five runners finishing in the top eight spots.
“Ashland definitely had a great race; I can never really complain about having some great out of conference competition during the season,” Bechdel said following the meet.
Despite finishing behind Ashland’s runners, Bechdel is looking to embrace the challenge that the members of that team present.
“Early on in the race their top guys definitely helped push me,” Bechdel said. “We’re a very young team and in the future, I hope they are a team we can work to eventually beat as well.”
Point Park is set to compete in the Mountain East Conference Championship on Oct. 25 in Wheeling, W. Va.
