Bullard wins men's 8K as all seven of Kent State's top finishers placed in the top nine.

 
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Kent State men's cross country team passed its final test before the 2011 Mid-American Conference Championshipswith flying colors.

 
The Golden Flashes stormed past Bowling Green, 17-42, Friday (Oct. 14) in the men's 8K race at the Ball State Invitational. Ball State will host the MAC finals at Elks Country Club in two weeks (Saturday, Oct. 29). The women's squad placed fourth with 70 points, finishing behind Western Michigan (30), Ball State (54) and Miami (64) and ahead of Bowling Green (140).

 
Redshirt sophomore Daniel Bullard (Olmstead Falls, Ohio) won the men's race with a time of 25:21.0 as all seven of Kent State's top finishers placed in the top nine – including four in the top five. Redshirt sophomore Steve Fischer (Hudson, Ohio) took second in  25:21.1. Redshirt junior Michael Heller (Stow, Ohio) placed third in 25:21.2. Sophomore Andrew Goodwin (Celina, Ohio) clocked a 25:53.6 to take fifth. Redshirt junior Colin Pettiford (Toledo, Ohio) finished sixth with a time of 26:16.7. Redshirt freshman Matt Kahl (Mason, Ohio) took seventh in 26:22.7. Freshman Russell McCune (Wadsworth, Ohio) clocked a 26:40.9 to take ninth. Redshirt senior Destin Heasley (Massillon, Ohio) and junior Daryl Murphy (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) also competed for the Golden Flashes, timing in at 26:47.9 and 27:23.5, respectively.

 
Redshirt freshman Paige Foster (Prior Lake, Minn.) was Kent State's top finisher on the women's side for the fifth straight meet, taking seventh in 22:20.5. Redshirt sophomore Melinda Sawnor (Rochester, N.Y.) clocked a 23:00.9 for 11th. Junior Alexandria Vintevoghel (Casco, Mich.) finished 15th with a time of 23:15.1. Redshirt sophomore Hannah Spicer (Canal Winchester, Ohio) crossed the finish line in 23:17.9 to place 17th. Redshirt senior Kassandra Meholick (New Cumberland, Pa.) finished 20th in 23:30.6. Redshirt freshman Katelyn Jacobson (Carrollton, Ohio) took 25th with a time of 24:37.5. Junior Lindsey Fascione (North Royalton, Ohio) placed 31st with a time of 26:36.3.

 
The Kent State men's team will be looking to capture its second conference championship in three years while the women's squad takes aim at its first title since 2004 in two weeks in Muncie, Ind.