SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior Kate Mattison earned her second straight top-five finish while freshman Justin Hayes led the men's team for the second time this season as the Western Carolina cross country teams competed at the Upstate Invite at the Milliken Research Center on Saturday morning.
 
Both the WCU men's and women's teams finished in fifth place out of 17 teams.
 
"We're happy to finish in the top five on both sides," said head coach Jesse Norman. "I felt like we made some good progressions on the women's side. While the times didn't improve, we ran much better on a tougher course. On the men's side, I feel like I just didn't plan the right workout for them to be sharp today. I'll make an adjustment and we'll be back on track for the conference meet."
 
Mattison tallied a career-best fourth-place finish as she completed the 5K race with a time of 18:10.60. Sophomore Sydney Runyan crossed the finish line in 23^rd thanks to her time of 19:32.30. Freshman Alesea Caldwell finished in 27^th with a finishing time of 19:46.50, while classmate Sara Klemm was 32^nd at 19:58.70. Freshman Madelynn Duffield finished in 40^th with a time of 20:20.30 followed by freshman Isabelle Broman-Fulks in 51^st with a time of 20:35.80. Freshman Madeleine Wagner finished 55^th after crossing the finish line in 20:45.0.  Other finishers for the Catamounts include junior Maggie Klemm in 78^th with a season-best time of 21:23.10 and sophomore Alayna Suitte in 97^th with a time of 22:34.10.
 
Hayes finished the men's 8K race with a time of 26:31.50 to earn a 14^th-place finish. Sophomore Drew Zink finished 21^st after navigating the course in 26:55.20. Junior Jalen Elwell earned a 28^th-place finish with a time of 27:13.10. Freshman Jordan McHugh finished 34^th with a time of 27:21.20 closely followed by junior Clay Summers in 35^th at 27:22.60. Freshman Nicholas Kiser finished in 65^th with a time of 28:24.80 with classmate John Davis in 76^th with a time of 28:45.00. Freshman Will Mitchell finished in 81^st place at 28:51.10 followed by junior Andrew Edney in 88^th with a time of 29:20.60. Freshman Henry Stecher crossed the finish line with a time of 29:54.40 to finish in 96^th with Joshua Stapleton completing the race in 32:29.40.
 
Furman won both the men's and women's events. Furman's Emily Little won the women's 5K race with a time of 17:28.70 while Queens' Jan Lucas Becker won the men's 8K race in 25:35.20.
 
The Catamounts compete for a Southern Conference championship on Oct. 30 at the Lexington Golf and Country Club in Lexington, Va. VMI will serve as the host school.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount cross country and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports) and Twitter (@catamounts, @catamountxctf).
 
Women's Results: 5K
4. Kate Mattison – 18:10.60
23. Sydney Runyan – 19:32.30
27. Alesea Caldwell – 19:46.50
32. Sara Klemm – 19:58.70
40. Madelynn Duffield – 20:20.30
51. Isabelle Broman-Fulks – 20:35.80
55. Madeleine Wagner – 20:45.00
78. Maggie Klemm – 21:23.10
97. Alayna Suitte – 22:34.10
 
Men's Results: 8K
14. Justin Hayes – 26:31.50
21. Drew Zink – 26:55.20
28. Jalen Elwell – 27:13.10
34. Jordan McHugh – 27:21.20
35. Clay Summers – 27:22.60
65. Nicholas Kiser – 28:24.80
76. John Davis – 28:45.00
81. Will Mitchell – 28:51.10
88. Andrew Edney – 29:20.60
96. Henry Stecher – 29:54.40
119. Joshua Stapleton – 32.29.40