TERRE HAUTE, Ind.—University of Evansville junior Ryan Witters (Evansville, Ind./Memorial) and freshman Cody Stein (Evanston, Ind./Heritage Hills) both posted first-place finishes at the Rose-Hulman Early Bird Track Meet in Terre Haute this weekend, as the Purple Aces had a strong showing in their first outdoor track meet of the spring season.
Witters opened his day by cruising to a victory in the 1,500-meter race, besting the field by over six seconds with a time of 3:59.37. He then came back in the 800-meter event to post a first-place finish in a time of 1:56.35. Stein then added UE’s third first-place finish of the meet in the men’s 5,000-meter race, as he cruised to a first-place finish in a time of 15:29.59.
“What a way to start off our spring season,” said UE head coach Don Walters. “I have not had this much fun at a track meet in a long time, and I know that our runners are fired up after the way they competed.
“Ryan really came to race today, and it was great to see all of his hard work in practice pay off with a pair of first-place finishes. Cody also had a great race in the 5,000-meter run, and hopefully, we can continue to build off of the showing this weekend the rest of the spring.”
On the men’s side, freshman Brady Hall (Evansville, Ind./Reitz) also posted a third-place finish for UE in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:03.27, while junior Chris Kipchirchir (Eldoret, Kenya) placed fourth in the 21-member 1,500-meter race with a time of 4:13.97 and fifth in the 19-member 800-meter race in a time of 2:00.65. Senior Brian Joyce (Evansville, Ind./Central) also posted a fifth-place finish in the 19-member 5,000-meter race in a time of 15:51.86.
On the women’s side, freshman Lauren Zeabart (Fort Branch, Ind./Gibson Southern) posted a pair of top-five finishes in the 1,500-meter race (5:05.51) and 800-meter run (2:28.65). Redshirt freshman Shelby Cron (Newburgh, Ind./Memorial) also placed fourth in the 1,500-meter run in a time of 5:20.57, while sophomore Lauren Schaftlein (Milltown, Ind./Crawford County) placed fifth in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:32.15.
This weekend’s meet is the first of five outdoor track meets in which members of the UE cross country program will compete in this spring, per NCAA rules. UE will return to action next weekend at the Hanover Invitational in Hanover, Indiana.
UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE RESULTS AT ROSE-HULMAN EARLY BIRD TRACK MEET
Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (5 competitors):
3. Brady Hall, 11:03.27
Women’s 1,500-Meter Run (9 competitors):
3. Lauren Zeabart, 5:05.51
4. Shelby Cron, 5:20.57
Men’s 1,500-Meter Run (21 competitors):
1. Ryan Witters, 3:59.37
4. Chris Kipchirchir, 4:13.97
13. Kyle O’Connor, 4:36.21
20. Brady Hall, 4:42.89
Women’s 800-Meter Run (10 competitors):
4. Lauren Zeabart, 2:28.65
5. Lauren Schaftlein, 2:32.15
Men’s 800-Meter Run (19 competitors):
1. Ryan Witters, 1:56.35
5. Chris Kipchirchir, 2:00.65
Men’s 5,000-Meter Run (19 competitors):
1. Cody Stein, 15:29.59
5. Brian Joyce, 15:51.86
11. Sam Mires, 16:24.43
