University of Evansville runners Ryan Witters (Evansville, Ind./Memorial), Cody Stein (Evanston, Ind./Heritage Hills) and Brian Joyce (Evansville, Ind./Central) all posted first-place finishes on Saturday, as the Purple Aces continued their spring season on the track at the Hanover Invitational in Hanover, Indiana.

Witters placed first in the 28-member field in the men’s 1,500-meter race by posting a sub-4:00 time for the second time this spring in a meet-record time of 3:59.23.  Stein, meanwhile, picked up his second title of the spring in the 5,000-meter run by placing first in a field of 17 in a time of 15:18.00.  Joyce completed UE’s sweep in the distance events on the men’s side with an impressive first-place finish in the 10,000-meter run, as he posted a time of 32:55.73 to beat the field by nearly a half-minute.  Despite fielding a team of just nine runners, UE was able to place eighth out of 10 teams at the meet on the men’s side with a total of 59 points. 

On the women’s side, a four-member UE contingent placed ninth out of 10 teams with 20 points.  Freshman Lauren Zeabart (Fort Branch, Ind./Gibson Southern) led UE’s female contingent with a pair of third-place finishes in the 800-meter (2:27.51) and 5,000-meter (19:36.81) runs.  Sophomore Lauren Schaftlein (Milltown, Ind./Crawford County) also posted a sixth-place finish in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:31.42, while freshman Kepra McBrayer (Albuquerque, N.M./Highland) also placed sixth in the 5,000-meter run in a time of 20:21.74.

“Overall, I was really pleased with how everyone ran, especially our male distance runners,” said UE head coach Don Walters.  “To sweep the three distance races on the men’s side is a credit to how hard these guys have worked so far this spring.  This is a great sign for things to come not only this spring, but also next fall on the cross country course.”

Members of the UE cross country team are currently competing in five spring outdoor track meets, per NCAA rules.  The teams will return to the track on Saturday, April 3 when UE travels to Clarksville, Tennessee to take part in the Austin Peay State Invitational.

INDIVIDUAL UE RESULTS FROM THE HANOVER INVITATIONAL

Women’s 800-Meter Run:
3.  Lauren Zeabart, 2:27.51
6.  Lauren Schaftlein, 2:31.42

Women’s 1,500-Meter Run:
7.  Shelby Cron, 5:20.36

Women’s 5,000-Meter Run:
3.  Lauren Zeabart, 19:36.81
6.  Kepra McBrayer, 20:21.74

Men’s 800-Meter Run:
2.  Ryan Witters, 1:57.51
4.  Chris Kipchirchir, 2:00.54
5.  Nick Tyree, 2:00.61

Men’s 1,500-Meter Run:
1.  Ryan Witters, 3:59.23 (Hanover Invitational Record)
5.  Chris Kipchirchir, 4:08.78
13.  Nick Tyree, 4:15.03
19.  Michael Romine, 4:27.98
25.  Kyle O’Connor, 4:35.75

Men’s 5,000-Meter Run:
1.  Cody Stein, 15:18.00
7.  Sam Mires, 16:28.29

Men’s 10,000-Meter Run:
1.  Brian Joyce, 32:55.73

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
3.  Brady Hall, 10:20.08