Bowling Green, Ohio-- Youngstown State senior Samantha Hamilton starts off her 2013 campaign strong earning herself a first place finish at the Bowling Green Mel Brodt Invitational on Friday in the 5k race with a time of 16:52.67. Sophomore Austin McLean led the pack for the Penguins on Friday for the men with a sixth place finish.
In her first race of the Cross Country season Hamilton continues to have an impressive career as a Penguin adding another first place finish to her resume. She led the women throughout the race and had a comforting 16 second lead in front of them. Placing next for the Penguins was senior Monica Ciarniello placing 29th with a time of 18:25.02. After her was freshman McKinsie Klim finishing 33rd at a time of 18:33.97, and then junior Anna Pompeo placing 36th at 18:37.50.
Other competitors for the Penguins were Emily Rogenski at 19:00.65, Brittany Stockmaster at 19:13.22, Katey Heney at 19:27.43, Megan Monte at 19:39.45, and Ashley Smith at 20:59.56.
Sophomore Austin McLean took a step forward for the YSU men and was the first to finish for them in the 8k race finishing sixth place with a time of 25:43.19 missing the top five by one second. Eric Rupe was the next top performer for the Penguins trailing the top 10 by 12 seconds finishing 11th at 26:03.75, after Rupe it was junior Nick Gliha placing 14th with a time of 26:11.87. John Hutnyan (26:41.18), Jon Richmond (27:10.22), and Ethan Wilson (27:26.15) were the other Penguins completing the course.
The YSU men and women teams will be running next at the Notre Dame Invitational on October 4 in South Bend, Ind.
