Kerns cracks Top 10 at All-Ohio, Humphreys sixth in Forgey Invite

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - University of Rio Grande senior Amarissa Kerns recorded a Top 10 finish and led the RedStorm women to a ninth-place finish in the All-Ohio Cross Country Championship, while a handful of her teammates were busy posting a runner-up finish in their own Patty Forgey Invitational.
     Both races were run on Friday evening, with the All-Ohio taking place at Cedarville University.
     Jenkins, a native of Lancaster, Ohio, finished seventh in the field of 283 runners by completing the 6k course in a time of 22:02.
     Rio's next-best finish came from Laura Hamm, who placed 70th in a time of 24:00, contributing to the RedStorm's ninth-place outing among a field of 20 schools which included all three divisions of the NCAA and the NAIA.
     Host Cedarville University easily won the team championship with 20 points, while John Carroll University (122 pts.) edged Ohio Wesleyan University (123 pts.) for a distant runner-up nod.
     Rio Grande had 255 points and finished just ahead of rival Shawnee State University.
     Also representing Rio Grande was Marley Kreischer, who placed 76th in a time of 24:10; Brandy Shular, who was 79th after crossing in 24:12; Camryn Huck, who finished 100th in a mark of 24:41; Grace Heffernan, who was 123rd with a time of 25:02; and Briana Nelson, who took 134th place in a time of 25:13.
     Back home in Rio Grande, another contingent of RedStorm runners lost what, essentially, was a dual against Indiana University Kokomo in the annual Patty Forgey Invitational, which is named in honor of the late former URG athletic department secretary.
     IUK had a perfect score of 15 with each of the top five finishers, while Rio tallied 46 points as a team. West Virginia University-Tech had two runners participate.
     IUK's Leslie Sprankles had the top individual finish with a time of 26:19.
     Rio Grande's top time came from Aylah Humphreys, who was sixth in a mark of 28:06 - 27 seconds ahead of her teammate Rebecca Spohn.
     The RedStorm also had three other runners compete in the event.
     Delana Jenkins was 14th with a time of 30:01, while Madison Lejzerowicz was 15th at 30:23 and Josie Hancock was 18th with a finish of 32:54.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action on Friday, Oct. 3 at Lehigh University's Paul Short Invitational in Bethlehem, Pa.