Cross Country competes in two events.
The University of Indianapolis Cross Country teams competed in the Lucian Rosa Invitational on Oct. 6 at Wisconsin-Parkside.
The women’s team placed seventh out of 18 teams present at the invitational, and were led by senior Stephanie Cave who finished 13th with a time of 18.32.8 in the 5K race. Junior Sutton Knapp took 16th overall with a time of 18:35.8 and sophomore Jacklyn Howland finished 22nd with a time of 18:43.8.
The men took ninth overall, and were led by sophomore Alex Cushman who finished eighth overall with a time of 25:17.6 in the 8K race. Junior Ben McMillian finished 39th with a time of 26:08.9, while sophomore Sean O’Brien finished 40th with a time of 26:09.2.
UIndy competed on Sept. 29 at the Greater Louisville Classic that took place at Tom Sawyer Park.
The men’s team placed 26th out of 46 teams. Cushman placed 28th out of 362 runners, finishing the 8K race with a time of 25:33.89. Cushman was the top placer for the Greyhounds. O’Brien took 78th place, finishing the race at 26:13.19, and senior Ian O’Boyle placed 88th with a time of 26:18.03.
For the women’s team, Knapp placed 70th out of 337 runners. Knapp finished the 5K race with a time of 19:04.24. Cave placed 84th, crossing the finish line at 19:08.54 and Howland placed 88th with a time of 19:09.32.
Earlier that week, Head Cross Country Coach Kathy Casey said that the Greater Louisville Classic would be a very challenging meet, with many teams the Greyhounds had not yet seen this season.
Cave said that having teams from different conferences would help motivate the team.
“There will be a lot of DI schools there [at Louisville], and that will help push all of the girls,” Cave said.
Casey described the Cross Country teams’ preparation for the Greater Louisville Classic as “business as usual.”
According to O’Boyle, the team’s focus is always on winning conference and having a championship season, and the Greyhounds hoped to compete well at Louisville.
“We want to show that we can be up there with the DI schools, that we have that talent to compete with them,” O’Boyle said.
Casey said that both teams should do well for the rest of the remaining season.
“We’re looking forward to the second half of the season,” she said.
Both teams will return to competition on Oct. 20 at the GLVC Championships, which will take place at Drury University in Springfield, Mo.
