Defiance Men Compete at Otterbein Invitational

WESTERVILLE, OHIO -- The Defince College men's cross country team finished in the ninth position at the Otterbein University Invitational this morning in Westerville.

The Yellow Jackets were led by junior Daren Gies (Plymouth), who finished the eight-kilometer course in 31:31.9 and finished in the 74th position in a field of 123 runners. Following him for DC was freshman Tyler Hines (Cincinnati/Northwest), who ran a time of 34:18.8, good enough for 102nd place. 

Sophomore Brandon Zartman (Paulding) followed with a time of 39:15.8, while Aubree Griggs (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Smith Academy) and Spencer Ross rounded out the field for the Yellow Jackets.

The host Otterbin Cardinals earned the victory as a team with 33 points, while the Ohio State University Running Club and Ohio Wesleyan rounded out the top three with 43 and 97 points, respectively. Defiance placed in ninth out of nine schools with 284 points. OSU Running Club's Samuel Stevens-Jones came home victorious, as he cruised to a time of 26:33.2, about 45 seconds ahead of Ohio Wesleyan's Ryan Lesmez.

The Yellow Jackets will return to action when they travel to Cedarville University for the All-Ohio Championships on Friday, Sept. 29.