CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The University of Wyoming Cross Country teams opened their season Saturday morning by hosting the Wyoming Invite racing on a 5k course at Little America Golf Course in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The season opener was highlighted by a sweep of both the individual and team titles for the Cowboys and a second place team finish for the Cowgirls.
The Pokes were led on the day by
Jacob White who won the individual title crossing the line in 14:46.3. White closed out the race in impressive fashion pulling away from a pair of CSU runners late in the race finishing more than two seconds ahead of the rest of the field. The duo
Mason Norman and Mac Zastrow finished just behind White, taking fifth and sixth with times of 15:03.9 and 15:07.1 respectively. Rounding out the top five finishers for the Cowboys were Gus McIntyre and Albert Stiener, who crossed the line in eighth and 11
threspectively.
As a team the Pokes took first winning the title with a score of 27 points finishing one point ahead of Colorado State, who is receiving votes in the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll and is ranked three spots ahead of Wyoming in the Mountain Region rankings. The Cowboys also bested Northern Colorado and Central Wyoming College to win the team title.
On the women's side,
Katelyn Mitchem had a strong start to her season pacing the Cowgirls with her second-place finish clocking a time of 17:15.2.
Leah Christians also turned in a strong race finishing in third with a time of 17:31.1. The duo of
Kylie Simshauser and
Abigail Whitman also finished inside the top ten placing eighth and ninth respectively. Kaylee Bentely rounded out the top five placers for the Cowgirls finishing in 16
th.
The Cowgirls earned a second-place finish in the team standings posting 35 points finishing ahead of Northern Colorado and Central Wyoming College coming in just 12 points behind No. 13 ranked Colorado State.
The Cowboys and Cowgirls will return to action on Friday, September 23 when they travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by Minnesota.
