The Missouri Western cross country team competed in their first race of the season at the Bearcat Open on Friday, Sept. 6. Both the men and women’s teams finished second overall and each had an individual who posted a top-five finish.
Freshman Ian Kibet finished fifth in the men’s 7K with a time of 23:24.5. Kibet was one of two Griffons with a top-10 finish, with Andrew Wright posting a time of 23:51.7, taking eighth for the day. Eight members of the men’s team placed within the top 25 in the Open. The men finished with an average time of 24:01.7.
Megan Gillen took third in the women’s 5K, posting a time of 19:31.3. She was one of three Griffons who finished in the top-10. Claire Reedy finished eighth with a time of 20:27.3, and Mackenzie Miller placed behind Reedy with a time of 20:53.4. The women’s team finished with an average time of 20:39.8.
The Griffons will head to Joplin next to compete in the Missouri Southern Stampede on Sept. 21.