Boone, N.C. – The Western Carolina cross country opened the 2019 season on Friday afternoon at the Covered Bridge Open hosted by Appalachian State. The women's team finished in fifth place while the men's team finished in eighth place.
“I'm excited about how the women's team ran, even with adding 200 meters to the course we had some good efforts and set ourselves up well,” head coach Jesse Norman stated. “The men's side was disappointing as I feel we're better than what we showed today.”
Lindsey Trotter led the Western Carolina women, navigating the 5,200-kilometer course with a time of 19:29.51 to finish in 28th place. Kate Mattison followed closely behind Trotter, scoring a 30th-place finish as she crossed the finish line in 19:34.02. Siena Gates finished 34th with a time of 19:49.26. Jamie Blaylock finished in 45th in 20:16.35. Shawnda Martin earned a 54th-place result at 20:31.32 to round out the WCU top five. Maggie Klemm made her collegiate debut with a time of 21:33.20. Caroline Schoessow crossed the finish line in 22:35.86 with Lauren Esselborn completing the race in 23:00.23.
Isaiah Hanna led the men's team, scoring a 40th-place finish as he completed the 8K race in 27:32.11. A pair of freshmen followed Hanna as Fletcher Bost finished 43rd with a time of 27:36.63 followed by Andrew Edney in 46th at 27:45.40. Justin Tucker's time of 28:49.49 earned him a 63rd-place result with Terry Young's finish of 65th in 28:57.14 completed the Catamount top five. Clay Summers finished with a time of 30:10.11 followed by Elijah Stuart at 32:00.72.
Florida State swept both the men's and women's team standings. High Point's Famke Heinst was the women's winner with a time of 18:00.60 while Kasey Knevelbaard of Florida State won the men's race in 24:58.48.
The Catamounts are back in action on Sept. 27, traveling to Charlotte for the Queen City Invitational.
