BLUFFTON, Ohio - Both men and women's cross country teams kicked off their season with a 5k to knock some of the racing rust off right on their home course for the annual Beaver Dam Invite on a beautiful Friday, August 29, 2025.

The men jump-started the night first with senior Jarrod Roudebush (Coshocton) leading the Beavers with a time of 17:15. Next across the line for the Beavers was sophomore Kaden McWatters( Genoa, Ohio/Genoa Area) crossing in a time of 18:24. Junior Micah Dodson (Wooster/Central Christian) finished 3rd for the men with a time of 19:34. Sophomore Malcolm Hudson (Villa Rica, GA/Villa Rica) came across next for the Beavers with a time of 20:11. Sophomore Jordan Croy (Ottawa/Ottawa-Glandorf) rounded out the squad with a time of 21:41.

The women's team followed at 6:40 PM and they were led by Sophomore Sara Smith (Mansfield/Madison Comprehensive) who picked up right where she left off from the track season, finishing 13th overall with a time of 19:43 becoming just the 4th woman in Bluffton history to break the 20-minute mark on the cross country course. Next across the line was some good pack running from freshman Josie Bruns (Maria Stein/Marion Local) and sophomore Kamryn McDonald (Marion, Ohio/Harding) who finished just five seconds from each other, running 23:49 and 23:54, respectively. Following that tandem was freshman Laina Camp (Marion, Ohio/Harding), who, despite battling some knee issues, had a solid collegiate debut with a time of 25:11. Freshman Katie Garrison (Caledonia/River Valley) rounded out the squad with a time of 26:26.

The Beavers will be back in action for another 5k next weekend at Tiffin on Friday, Sept. 5, for the annual Tiffelberg Open.

-BEAVERS-