Ferlic Reigns in Season Debut at Louisville Classic

Saturday, October 3

Louisville, Ky.

9:30 AM

Michigan

Greater Louisville Classic

10/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

Oct. 3, 2015

Ferlic
Mason Ferlic

» U-M defeated No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 13 Mississippi and No. 28 Eastern Kentucky, and three other programs that received votes in the latest USTFCCCA Coaches' Poll.
» Today's race marked a return to action for fifth-year senior co-captain Mason Ferlic, who earned his first individual victory since the Notre Dame Blue & Gold Invitational in 2014.
» The Maize and Blue posted a split of just 38 seconds between runners 1-5.
» E.P. Tom Sawyer Park is the site of the 2015 NCAA Championships (Nov. 21).

• Complete Results | Highlights (Flotrack)

Site: E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park (Louisville, Ky.)
Meet: Greater Louisville Classic
U-M Team Finish: 2nd Place of 24 Teams (67 points)
Top U-M Individual: Mason Ferlic, 1st place (23:51.52)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 16 -- at Wisconsin Adidas Invitational (Madison, Wis.), 11 a.m. CDT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The 10th-ranked University of Michigan men's cross country team was the runner-up at the 8,000-meter Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday (Oct. 3), placing five athletes in the field's top 21 finishers at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park. Michigan was led by fifth-year senior co-captain Mason Ferlic, who won the individual title in less than 24 minutes among a field of 213 athletes.

In U-M's first-ever trip to the Greater Louisville Classic, now in its 14th year of annual competition, the Maize and Blue had a strong showing, defeating conference opponents No. 4 Wisconsin, Illinois and Penn State on the way to a second-place team finish. In his season debut with the varsity squad, Ferlic was one of six athletes to finish the race in less than 24 minutes, winning by more than three seconds over Louisville's Edwin Kibichiy.

Behind Ferlic, juniors Connor Mora (PR 24:17.59) and co-captain Ben Flanagan (24:18.94) crossed within two seconds of each other for 12th and 13th-place finishes, respectively. Next across the line for U-M was fifth-year senior Nick Posada in 20th at 24:26.31 -- a personal best -- while senior Tony Smoragiewicz rounded out the scoring in 21st (24:29.53).

Senior/junior Nick Renberg came in about seven seconds behind Smoragiewicz, claiming 31st in 24:36.83, while fifth-year senior August Pappas finished 36th in 24:39.58.

Junior/sophomore Micah Beller also achieved a new personal best at 24:41.24, as did senior/junior Jarred Bratley in 24:48.81.

Ten of Michigan's 12 athletes competing were among the top 53 finishers. Sophomores/freshmen Chase Barnett (85th) and Kyle Kroon (100th) experienced their first race at the 8,000-meter distance while wearing the block M in today's event.

Tweet of the Day

.@umichtrack takes home a runner-up finish, and an authentic @sluggernation bat! #GLClassic pic.twitter.com/cuUZ72FtRS

-- FloTrack (@FloTrack) October 3, 2015

After a weekend off, U-M returns to action on Friday, Oct. 16, with the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational, hosted by the University of Wisconsin Badgers in Madison. The race begins at 11 a.m. CDT.

Top 10 Individual Finishers

 1. MASON FERLIC, U-M               23:51.52 2. Edwin Kibichiy, Louisville      23:55.21 3. CHartt Miller, Iona             23:55.82 4. MJ Erb, Mississippi             23:56.80 5. Japhet Kipkoech, Louisville     23:57.24 6. Dylan Lafond, Illinois          23:59.55 7. Kieran Clements, Iona           24:02.12 8. Johnnie Guy, Southern Indiana   24:06.72 9. Sean Tobin, Mississippi         24:10.2610. Ernest Kibet, Louisville        24:14.24

Top U-M Finishers

 12. Connor Mora          24:17.59 13. Ben Flanagan         24:18.94 20. Nick Posada          24:26.31 21. Tony Smoragiewicz    24:29.53 31. Nick Renberg         24:36.83 36. August Pappas        24:39.58 38. Micah Beller         24:41.24 46. Aaron Baumgarten     24:43.90 53. Jarred Bratley       24:48.81 85. Chase Barnett        25:13.04100. Kyle Kroon           25:22.56