Panthers Shine At Notre Dame Invite

Friday, October 2

South Bend, Ind.

1 p.m. (CT)

University of Northern Iowa

Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational

Panthers Shine At Notre Dame Invite

10/2/2015 6:51:00 PM | Cross Country

FINAL RESULTS

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Northern Iowa cross country team wrapped up competition at the Notre Dame Invitational today, scoring a fourth place finish on the men's side and a seventh place finish for the women.

"I was very pleased with how both teams executed the race plan today," head coach Dave Paulsen said. "We stayed strong as a pack in the middle of the race, which was a big point of emphasis."

Kelsey Kirchoff led the Panther women for the third straight meet, placing eighth overall out of 150 competitors. Kirchoff's time of 17:46.80 was a new 5,000 meter personal-best for the junior, keeping her ranked sixth all-time at UNI.

Callie Matthews notched her second consecutive top-30 finish this season with a time of 18:13.30. Her personal record time put her in 26^th place at the meet and ranks her 20^th all-time at UNI. Hanna Martin rounded out UNI's top-30 finishers in 30^th place with a time of 18:16.30 to land her on UNI's all-time list at No. 23.

On the men's side, Trai Bunch turned in the Panthers top performance in the five mile run, placing 15^th out of 146 runners with a time of 25:12.12. Coming in just a second later was Bailey Wetherell in 17^th place with a time of 25:13.20, setting a new 45-second personal-best.

Newcomer Dylan Eigenberger rounded out the UNI men top-35 finishers, placing 31^st overall in his first race as a Panther with a time of 25:24.90. Ben Fick and Shane Kirchoff both finished inside the top-50, grabbing strong times of 25:30.40 and 25:41.60.

"We are in good position to continue to build over the new few weeks heading into the MVC Championships," Paulsen said.

The Panthers will return to action Oct. 16 when they travel to Peoria, Ill. for the Bradley Classic. The meet is set to start at 3 p.m. CT.