Senior Alyssa Epperson and junior Brendan Plogger were Mary Baldwin's top finishers at the annual Dickinson Long-Short Invitational at Big Spring High School in Newville, Pa.  The meet was a national-caliber competition and served as a preview on the 2023 NCAA Championship course, drawing teams from throughout the country.

In her first race of the season after returning from an injury, Epperson was MBU's top finisher in the 6K women's chase.  She crossed the finish line in 28:37.8, just over seven seconds ahead of junior teammate Cloey Mazingo.  Mazingo fiished 27 seconds faster than her first 6K in 2022.

Rounding out MBU's top five were Johannah Dillaway (30:44.6), Anastasia Bunting (32:39.6) and Maia Ott (36:54.3).  Bunting had a strong finish down the stretch to finish just three places behind Dillaway.  It was the first time Ott, Jada Torez (38:17.8) and Hale Arslan (38:18.0) ever competed in a 6K collegiate race.

Hailey Erickson of Calvin College crossed the finish line in 22.08.7 while Pria Parker of Smith University covered the distance in 22:19.8.  Calvin took top team honors in the women's event ahead of Smith and Case Western University.  MBU placed 19th in the women's team standings.

In the men's race, Plogger covered the 8K course in 31:40.8 in crossing the finish line first for the Fighting Squirrels.  He made up several spots in the final two miles and outsprinted Ethan Kanagy of Eastern Mennonite down the stretch to finish seven seconds faster than his first 8K last year.

The rest of the MBU men, all running their first-ever collegiate 8K race, included Daniel Diaczyszyn (31:55.0), Micah Ahearn-Wood (34:02.3), David Shultz (36:33.5) and Landon Baker (36:54.6).  Baker improved his overall average pace by five seconds per mile from the team's season-opening meet at Eastern Mennonite.

Anthony Rodriguez of Babson College was the top runner in the men's race, crossing the finish line in 25:18.2, just four seconds ahead of Nathan Tassey of Roger Williams University.  Carnegie Mellon University won the team title while MBU finished 17th.


MBU men's top 5
Brenden Plogger - 31:40.8 
Daniel Diaczyszyn - 31:55.0 
Micah Ahearn-Wood - 34:02.3 
David Shultz - 36:33.5 
Landon Baker - 36:54.6 

MBU women's top 7
Alyssa Epperson - 28:37.8 
Cloey Mazingo - 28:45.0 
Johannah Dillaway - 30:44.6 
Anastasia Bunting - 32:39.6 
Maia Ott - 36:54.3 
Jada Torez - 38:17.8 
Hale Arslan - 38:18.0