Cross Country | 10/18/2025 7:08:00 PM

Oberlin, Ohio - The Oberlin College cross country teams hosted a home cross country meet for the first time in three years, bringing back the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble. With the presence of friends, family and the backdrop of taiko drummers came a festive atmosphere; this meet was truly a celebration for the Oberlin cross country teams. 

The women's varsity race at 10:30 a.m. pierced the crisp morning air, kicking off the rest of the Rumble. First-year Lieke Everts had a powerful debut coming back from injury, leading the race from the gun. Classmate Chelsea Larsen followed close behind before moving up to finish just ahead of Everts with a time of 24:27, in 68th place. Everts finished soon after in 76th place, with a personal record of 24:40.

Second-year Samantha Soto and third-year Char Purcell raced each other to the line, finishing in 79th and 80th, with times of 24:42 and 24:45, respectively. Fourth-year Ella Wozek finished just behind in 83rd with a time of 24:48 followed by classmate Amber Borofsky who finished in 88th place with a time of 24:52. First-year Mirabel Adams had one of the few personal best in the women's varsity race finishing in 105th with a time of 25:08, eight seconds faster than her previous best. Second-year Solana Pearl rounded out the field for Oberlin, finishing in 117th place with a time of 25:17. 

The men's varsity race followed, starting their race in slightly warmer temperatures. Leading the Oberlin men's pack, fourth-year Liam Newman ran a new personal best of 26:00 and crossed the line in 17th. Newman was then followed closely through the chute by third-year Will Gordon who took 25th clocking in a 26:11. Closing behind Gordon came fourth-year Charlie Endres who placed 55th in 26:44. First-year Ryan Faris crossed the finish line, nipping at Endres' heels and taking 59th with a 26:51.

Next for the men's team came fellow first-year Cooper Tanski who closed in a 27:22 and placed 97th. Tanski was followed by second-year Grant Hirsch who ran a new personal best of 27:54 and crossed the finish line in 124th. Classmate Toby Wells-Spackman followed Hirsch across the line in 28:34 and took 164th. Daniel Beyda, a second-year, closed with a 28:49 and claimed a 177th-place finish.

The women's open race began at 12 p.m., with first-year Sofia Picucci crossing the line in 50th with a personal record of 28:00, 24 seconds faster than her previous best. Third-year Zosia Mateja made her season debut after being injured, finishing in 61st, with a time of 28:37. Fourth-year Serafina Yan was next to cross the line in 78th place posting a time of 29:51. Fourth-year Celia Vaughn finished close behind Yan in 81st place recording a time of 30:15. First-year June Essinger finished in 92nd place with a time of 31:06. 

The men's open race closed out the events for the day. Spirits were high with family and alumni toeing the start line along current team members. Greydan Villano, a second-year, earned a new personal best with a time of 29:21 and placed 70th. Villano closed out the reborn Rumble, finishing amidst recent and distant alumni and team family members.

"It was truly wonderful being able to host the Rumble again for the first time since 2022," Head Cross Country Coach Izzy Alexander remarks. "A lot of people helped make it possible, too many to thank individually, but it was a lot of people doing a lot of work to make this meet a special experience for the athletes, ours and those on visiting teams."

This concludes the regular season for the Crimson and Gold as they will now turn their attention to the postseason. Oberlin will return to action on Saturday, November 1 for the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships hosted by Kenyon. The men's 8k championship race is scheduled for 11 a.m. followed by the women's 6k championship at 12:15 p.m.

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