Murray State cross-country raced to an excellent start for the semester with success at the Belmont Opener in Nashville, Tenn.
Head Coach Jenny Severns said the conditions for the opener were good but hot, and she spoke very highly of her runners’ efforts at Belmont.
“I was really happy because we are definitely where we need to be at the beginning of the season,” Severns said.
The men’s and women’s teams bested OVC rivals Tennessee State and UT-Martin Aug. 31 to cap off the day. For the women’s team, junior Brittany Bohn led the way, finishing 34th. Fellow junior Abbie Oliver followed in 36th place. Sophomore Ali Hester finished 48th and senior Carolyne Tanui took 52nd.
The women’s team ran well against Tennessee State and UT-Martin; Severns said all five runners for the Racers finished before their rivals’ first runners did.
As for the men, sophomore transfer Cole Cisneros finished first for the team and was 48th overall.
Freshmen Mitch Harris and Neil Yockey finished 52nd and 79th, while sophomore Jarred Koerner finished 80th.
Severns said the men’s team gained several transfer students and therefore has a different dynamic than last year.
Severns said despite the newcomers, she saw an improvement at the Belmont Opener and said she is happy with the results.
“Cole Cisneros had a really good performance,” Severns said. “Especially since he’s new to Murray State and he led the way for us.”
During their run, the men’s teams were misguided at the Percy Werner Park.
Severns said the team ran farther than they were supposed to on the second loop, but it had little effect on the runners.
Severns said she hopes to see more of the same at the Walt Crawford Open. She said she wants the players to be able to motivate themselves and reach deep to push past the wall to keep going.
Murray State has a chance to build upon its good start today at the EIU Walt Crawford Open in Charleston, Ill., at the Panther Trail.
Story by Kate Farrell, Staff Writer