Women’s Cross Country
Opening their season on a high note, the Saint Xavier Women’s Cross Country team finished the Twilight Invite at Saint Francis University (Ill.) in third place on Aug. 29.
Having lost stand out runners Dana Martin and Jordan Wallace last year due to graduation, junior Ann Kolker and company rolled right through their competition last Friday night.
Kolker finished 12th overall in the 5K race with a time of 20:31.42, edging out the rest of the 52 collegiate runners she competed against.
Next to cross the finish line was Nicole Watkins, who finished in 14th place with a final time of 20:50.18. Courtney Correa was right behind her, taking 18th place with her strong pace of 21:32.70.
Watkins and Correa continue dominance from last season, proving that they will be a force to be reckoned with during their time with SXU.
Freshman newcomer Alondra Delfin and senior Ali Proffitt rounded out the top 30 with 23rd and 29th place finishes, respectively.
Next week, the team heads out to their Illinois Collegiate meet in Bourbonnais, looking for another positive outing.
SXU Athletics
Men’s Cross Country
The Saint Xavier University Men’s Cross Country Team had a lot to prove during their first meet of the year back on Aug. 29.
With only three runners active and a new head coach at the helm, things could have gone a lot differently for the Cougars at the Twilight Invite out at the University of Saint Francis (Ill.).
But thanks to the speedy junior, Janis Pastars, and his impressive first place finish, the team had a lot to be proud of. Pastars finished with a final time of 15:50.20 in the 5K, landing him the CCAC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week honor.
Transfer student Victor Solis finished in 22nd place, with a time of 17:17. Senior Kyle Counter was only twenty seconds behind with a 17:37 pace, landing him in 27th.
Head coach Kyle Rago has high hopes for the rest of his runners and the season ahead of them.
The Cougars will continue their quest to prove themselves as the best in the NAIA next Friday out at Olivet Nazarene University in the Illinois Intercollegiate meet.
Torie Bolster
Sports Editor