Cross Country | 11/15/2025 6:23:00 PM

Louisville, Kentucky - The Oberlin men's and women's cross country teams traveled to Louisville, Kentucky, for the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Championships, hosted by Spalding University. Nearly 300 miles from any of the Great Lakes, Oberlin took to the course in balmy weather under overcast skies. Hosted at the E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park, the course was more technical and hilly than many this season. The men's team dropped 405 points to place 14th of 37 teams, while the women's team scored 594 points for 22nd of 37.

The men's race was announced with a mellifluous manipulation of a herald's trumpet by one of the race officials. Shortly after, the gun went off at 10:00 a.m., spurring the runners into action. Fourth-year Liam Newman led the men's team from the gun in his final cross country race at Oberlin. With a time of 25:38 and a placement of 19th, the fourth-year ran a new personal record in his swan song race, earning All-Region honors and closing out his cross country career. Third-year Will Gordon was next up for the men's team, closing well for 56th in 26:19. First-year Cooper Tanski was just behind Gordon, kicking down the home straight for 64th in 26:25.

Next in line for the Crimson and Gold was fourth-year Charlie Endres, who, covered in dirt from an early fall, rallied for 120th in a time of 27:11. Second-year Grant Hirsch raced about as well as he had all season, staying engaged to run just off of his personal best claiming 153rd in 27:44. Classmate Daniel Beyda ran in place of first-year Ryan Faris, who fell ill the night before the race. Beyda found out that he was running during the 6:30 a.m. shakeout the morning of the race. Despite the late notice, the second-year runner ran a season best of 27:53 and placed 163rd. Classmate Toby Wells-Spackman followed Beyda through the chute, finishing in 196th with a 28:47. 

The seven runners from the women's team raced second on the beautiful Kentucky morning. The gun went off at 11 a.m., with the Oberlin women's team charging through the starting field. The team was led by fourth-year Amber Borofsky, who stayed strong and focused on moving up throughout the entire race to finish in 98th with a time of 24:18. Borofsky expressed excitement about the work she had put in this season and enjoyed the final cross country race of her collegiate career. Next to cross the finish line was first-year Chelsea Larsen, finishing in 119th with a time of 24:50 for her regional debut. Close behind her was fourth-year Ella Wozek, finishing in 126th with a time of 24:58 for her last collegiate cross country race.

First-year Lieke Everts crossed the line in 130th with a time of 25:03, followed by third-year Char Purcell, who finished in 136th with a time of 25:08. Although finishing slightly apart from each other, these four women's team members stayed packed up throughout most of the race, helping each other as much as possible. Next to cross the line was first-year Mirabel Adams in 152nd with a time of 25:26. Behind her was second-year Samantha Soto in 174th with a time of 25:55. This concludes an impressive season of personal bests and many days of consistent hard work for the Oberlin women's cross country team.   

"We had a number of first-years compete today, and I'm super proud of their seasons overall. In addition to the valuable experience they gained today, we are so excited for their future and for the future of this program," Head Coach Izzy Alexander adds. "Liam was outstanding today; his 19th-place finish is the second-highest place finish in the past 10 years. To have the best race of his life in the last cross country race of his career is remarkable and a testament to the amount of work he has put in, his invaluable leadership, and how he's been the heartbeat of this team this whole year."

With no runners qualifying for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, the Crimson and Gold will close their 2025 season. Many members will now turn their attention to the indoor track & field season, set to begin in December. 

Keep up with the Crimson and Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, and watch every home game on the Oberlin Sports Network online or on Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.