ELYRIA, Ohio – The Capital University men's and women's cross country programs both put forth strong performances at the OAC Championships on Saturday as the men placed third as a team and the women took fifth. The third place finish for the men matched the program's highest finish at the OAC Championships since 1964. Additionally with the third place finish, Capital placed higher than Otterbein in the team standings to claim the oar in the rivalry series for the first time since the resurgence of the Oar trophy in 2021. The fifth place finish for the women's team lifted the program to one of their best finishes as a team in program history. 

Leading the way individually for Capital today was a quartet of All-OAC finishers in the form of Kolin Brake, Mikey Arnone, Justin Rona and Lillith Dreibelbis. Brake highlighted the day by placing third overall in the men's race. 

WOMEN
The Comets took fifth of nine teams in the standings as they recorded 138 points. Mount Union won the team title with 34 points. 

For Capital, Lilith Dreibelbis led the way, placing 13th overall in a time of 23:02.10. That time earned her All-OAC accolades and moved her into sixth all-time at Capital. 

Laney Tarr was next for Capital, finishing 30th overall in 23:36.30. Her time moved her up to 10th all-time at Capital. 

Lily Carpico was right on Tarr's heels, taking 32nd overall in 23:42.80 – a time good enough to move her into 11th all-time at Capital. 

Olivia Ellis was the next finisher for the Purple and White, taking 52nd overall in a time of 25:01.00. Hollyn Reed rounded out the top-five with a 56th place finish in a time of 25:10.70. 

Shelby Janes and Camryn Baker concluded the top-seven for Cap as Janes was 60th in 25:25.80 and Baker was 64th in 25:34.70. 

Also competing for Capital were Alex Wilkinson (65th - 25:35.80), Hadley Fullen (75th - 25:54.80), Sara Kottmyer (77th - 25:55.60), and Catherine Schaub (87th - 26:42.20). 

MEN
The Comet men edged a very competitive middle of the pack in the team standings by taking third overall with 92 points. They placed just one point ahead of Otterbein and just four points ahead of both Baldwin Wallace and Heidelberg. Ohio Northern took the team title with 39 points. 

The Comets performed well all around, being led by Kolin Brake who placed third overall in 25:34.20. The time was a new personal-best and moved Brake up into third fastest in school history. 

Mikey Arnone also came away with a top-10 performance, finishing 10th in 25:50.10. The time was also good to move him up the program leaderboard, not settling into fourth best in school history. 

Justin Rona was the third Comet to finish, taking the final All-OAC spot in 20th place as he clocked a time of 26:14.40. That time was an improvement on his own personal best and 13th all-time at Capital. 

Ryin Fisher was the fourth to finish, taking 23rd overall in 26:21.60. That time slots into 14th best in program history. 

Ridwan Aliawl rounded out the top-five for Capital with a 43rd place finish in 26:50.50.

Braydon Nix and Aiden Mahony rounded out the top-seven as Nix was 47th in 26:55.20 and Mahony was 49th in 26:56.40. 

Also running for Capital were Owen Bottar (57th - 27:05.50), Aidan Fisher (64th - 27:13.20), Dimetrius Floyd (68th - 27:18.10), Gunnar Yates (76th - 27:26.00), Ean Berberich (91st - 27:52.00), Jordan Hull (93rd - 27:57.20), Hayden Quinif (102nd - 28:07.20), Logan Belanger (136th - 29:27.20), Alex Ortiz-Laus (143rd - 29:41.00) and Aaron McNutt (146th - 29:55.30). 

UP NEXT
Capital will turn their focus to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships taking place in two weeks on November 14th in East Lansing, Michigan.