Assistant coach Mitch Bentley told his runners to start conservatively on Friday, but even he could not have seen the success that followed.

Senior Shamus Eaton and junior Todd Holbrook led the men’s team to a fifth-place finish out of 42 teams, while juniors Kari Summers and Annie Beecham led the women’s team to a fourth-place finish out of 41 teams.

Eaton finished 12th. During the halfway mark, Eaton was behind the Bobcats’ second runner, junior Ridge Robinson, who finished 19th.

“(Bentley) always preaches about this,” Eaton said. “Especially on a day like (Friday), when it’s a grueling course, it helps to go out slow. When you’re smart about it, you can really catch some people in the last few miles.”

Holbrook also made a move at the halfway mark. He was fourth for the Bobcats at that point, moving up to third on the team and 45th individually by the finish line.

“It is how I normally try to race, especially on a course like this,” Holbrook said. “You’re going to have a better race than someone who goes out hard.”

For the women, Summers had a bad start when she was boxed in by the other runners. But she caught the leaders by the mile-mark. She finished second individually, 15 seconds behind Cincinnati’s Lilian Jelimo.

“There was a point when going down the hill where I thought I was walking,” Summers said. “I just got stuck. There were so many people. I wish that I could have gotten out a little better, but I don’t think that it hurt me too bad.”

Beecham started out well, but she did not sprint off the line. Beecham stayed between 15th and 20th at the start and was in fourth place after one mile. She finished third overall, 22 seconds behind Jelimo.

Bentley noted that this advice could not work for all of the runners, though.

“There’s a catch-22 with it,” Bentley said. “If you don’t get out in the mid-pack somewhat fast, you’re going to end up losing just as much energy and time trying to weave your way to the outside. It’s a situation where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”

Both squads saw some improvement, especially the women. Junior Jenielle Hunt and freshman Hannah Charbel, the Bobcats’ third and fourth runners, closed the gap on Beecham, finishing 25th and 33rd.

However, the Bobcats lost to Mid-American Conference opponent Bowling Green by four points.

The men’s team placed behind Kent State, losing by 64 points. Although unexpected, the Bobcats were not too worried by the loss.

“It’s a good indicator of how much work we’ve got to do,” Eaton said. “We know that (Kent) is going to be there at the MAC (championship), within striking distance. At the end of the season, we’ll be right there with Kent.”