HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.- The Northern Kentucky University men's and women's cross country teams both had strong outings at the 2018 Horizon League Championship. The men's squad took fourth (119 points), while the women grabbed sixth (140 points) in the League finale. 
 
Coach's Quote
"It was an up and down day in the women's race today," head coach Steve Kruse said. "Our women made a two-place improvement over last year. They followed the race plan and performed well in a very competitive race. Hanna Tobler and Jennah Flairty fought hard and ran harder than they have in the past. Elyse Black and Kimmy Wolfe also ran great races today. I am very proud of everyone's effort. The men ran well today. Alec Sandusky ran a strategic race, he was really patient and ran a smart race for a fourth-place finish. Ryan Burrows put himself out there and a ran a really good race. It was a great showing for the Norse with both of them earning All-Horizon League honors. We are now looking forward to the NCAA Regional and the challenges it will provide."
 
The men's 8K championship

• Sandusky and Burrows were the top-two finishers for the Norse, with Sandusky clocking in at 25:04.50 for fourth (four points) and Burrows taking 10^th (10 points) at 25:24.20.
• For their efforts, Sandusky earned First Team All-Horizon League, with Burrows garnering Second Team All-Horizon League honors.
• Zach Birsdall (30th, 29 points, 26:18.10), Kyle Mastin (38th, 33 points, 26:36.30) and Tristan Tapia (51^st, 43 points, 27:01.20) rounded out the Norse scoring.
• Youngstown State took the men's overall title with a final point total of 46. 

The women's 6K championship

• Tobler was the top-finisher for the women's squad placing 17^th(17 points) in a time of 22:17.10.
• Flairty (19^th, 19 points, 22:26.00), Black (22^nd, 22 points, 22:34.50), Wolfe (40^th, 39 points, 23:18.70) and Maddie Frey (45^th, 43 points, 23:28.60) rounded out the NKU scoring.
• Milwaukee was the overall team champion tallying 76 points. 

Up next for the Norse

• The Norse will return to action at the 2018 NCAA Southeast Cross Country Regional Championship in Rock Hill, South Carolina, on November 9.

Follow the Norse

• For more information on the Northern Kentucky University cross country/track and field program and all Norse athletics please visit NKUNorse.com. Updates on the program are available throughout the year by following @NKUNorseXCTF on Facebook and Twitter.