Cross country men finish first, women second
The Utah State men’s cross country team bounded past three other competing teams to a first-place finish in the Idaho State Invitational on Saturday.
The women’s team finished in second place at the meet.
“I’m really excited about the season,” said head coach Greg Gensel. “It is good to find out where we are at and how we stack up”
Gensel said he feels the team has a good opportunity to have a great time this year.
Coaches feel the opening meet was a day for seniors to assert their leadership as experienced runners and that they did.
On the men’s side was senior Steve Prescott finishing a strong second, just 15 seconds behind the winner of the race. Prescott posted a time of 19:49.
Senior Mitch Zundell took fourth place with a time of 20:39.
Senior Brick Bergeson landed a ninth-place finish with a time of 20:35, and he was followed closely by a newcomer to the Aggie squad, freshman Mike Nielson.
Nielson ran a the course in 20:39 for 10th place.
On the women’s team, senior Shae Messersmith shone through with a time of 11:54 and a sixth-place finish.
Christi Howell followed closely with a seventh-place finish five seconds later.
“It looks like they are going to do really well this season.”
Another top-10 finisher, Melanie McClellan, placed t10th with a time of 12:05.
The Aggies will have a week off from competition before traveling to the Montana State pm Sept. 15.