DC Harriers Begin 2010 Season at Manchester Hokum Karem

N. MANCHESTER, Ind. – The Defiance College cross country teams traveled to Indiana on Thursday to compete against the top-ranked cross country program in the HCAC, according to the conference's preseason polls.

The Manchester Hokum Karem Meet, which features two-person relays teams rather than the conventional one-person cross country race, marked the beginning of the 2010 season for the Yellow Jacket harriers.

In the men's competition, Defiance was narrowly defeated, 10-11, by a Manchester team that was ranked top-30 in the nation by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Preseason Poll. DC's Justin Perkins and Hayden Krick teamed up to post the fastest overall time at the meet, finishing the 12,800-meter race in 40:46 with an average mile time of 5:07.6.

Two freshmen harriers in Joe Davis and Madison Murphy teamed up to take the fourth-place spot for Defiance with a time of 41:35, while the duo of Matt Rohlf and Aaron Fraley finished seventh overall at 43:41.

On the women's side, the Yellow Jackets fell 15-6 to a tough Manchester squad. Kaitlin Switzer and Kate Busto led the Jackets, placing sixth overall with a time of 39:20 in the six-mile race. The Lady Jackets also claimed the 7-9 spots, giving the team four of the top-10 finishes.

The Yellow Jacket harriers now set their eyes on Saturday, September 11, when they host the annual Defiance College Cross Country Invitational, beginning at 11:00 a.m.