Ten Seattle University runners set personal records at the successful Emerald City Open in Woodland Park, Seattle, Wash. on Saturday.
Junior Erik Barkhaus (Whitefish Bay, Wis.) drew away from the pack during the third circuit of the course in order to place first in the men’s 8k race and lead the Redhawks to a first place team finish.
The women raced to a third place finish, led by freshman Cara Talty’s (Raritan, N.J.) 13th place in 23:44. Talty has been the top finisher for the women’s team in every event she has competed.
“We wanted to come out and represent well, and we definitely did,” said head coach Trisha Steidl. “Everyone ran amazingly well.”
Barkhaus finished the race in 26:00, 11 seconds ahead of the second place runner and 54 seconds ahead of the third place finisher. He beat his own time for the course from 2009 by 1:41. Six men placed in the top twenty runners out of the largest field ever in the Open. Following Barkhaus was Hans Heitzinger in sixth in 27:04, Kelton Sears eighth in 27:16, Matthew McClement 11th in 27:34, Michael Van Nuland was 13th in 27:45, and Jeff Baklund finished 16th with a time of 27:59.
The rest of the men's Redhawk team included Chris Auld (28:12), Graham Kinzel-Grubbs (28:50), Dan Auld (29:09), Keenan Clinch (29:34), Graham Miller (29:43), Peter Slauson (30:05), Kevin Kopetz (30:27), and Peter VanNuland (30:44).
On the women’s side, Celeste Cassidy finished 18th in 24:43 behind Talty, quickly followed by Sarah Bolce in 19th place with a time of 24:44. Hannah Mittelstaedt was 21st in 24:53, and Lauren Hammerle 24th in 25:07.
They were followed by Nicole Waters (25:54), Allison Prather (26:24), Ashley Dalton (26:24), and Mary Thompson (27:30).
Just after the men’s 8k was the Family & Friends 2k Fun Run. This event, in addition to the men’s and women’s races, drew the most contestants ever.
“It was so fun to have everyone out here for the support and fun run, especially the alumni,” said Steidl.
The Redhawks will have a week off before traveling to Oregon City, Ore. for the Mike Hodges Invitational held at Clackamas CC on Saturday, Oct. 15.