BOONE, N.C. – Graduate student Kate Mattison ran a 5K personal best 17:51.25 to secure an eighth-place finish as the Catamounts cross country teams opened the 2022 season at the Covered Bridge Open on Friday afternoon on the campus of Appalachian State.
 
The Western Carolina women's team finished in fifth place in the team standings while the men's team came home 10th.
 
Mattison bested her previous personal best time of 18:08.80 to secure her fifth career top-10 finish. Her time is tied for the sixth-fastest in program history, all of which are below the 18-minute mark.
 
Graduate transfer Caroline Hilliard earned a 21st-place finish in her WCU debut, completing the race with a time of 18:18.08. Alesea Caldwell finished with a new personal best time of 19:05.39 to finish in 37th. Landey Green placed 57th with a time of 19:30.11 in her first collegiate meet. Sydney Runyan earned a 62nd-place finish after completing the race in 19:35.49, followed by Sara Klemm with a new personal best of 19:39.25 to finish 66th, and Madelynn Duffield finished in 20:01.22 (78th).
 
Riley McKinney began her collegiate career with a time of 20:19.57, followed by classmates Sydney Lowe in 20:37.26 and Jessica Connole at 20:39.13. Other Catamount finishers include Olivia Gemma at 21:24.44 and Lauren Esselborn with a time of 21:35.31.
 
Will Mitchell led the Catamount men with a 50th-place result, completing the 8K race with a time of 26:46.09. Jalen Elwell earned a 66^th-place finish with a time of 27:15.46 followed by John Davis with a personal best 27:25.69 to finish in 68^th. Matthew Martin logged a time of 27:26.24 in his collegiate debut to finish in 70^th. Classmate Grant Parham placed 93^rd after completing the race in 28:17.00. Nicholas Kiser completed the race in 28:45.65 followed by Jonny Sherwood in 28:58.26. Other Catamount finishers include Mickey Schihl at 29:24.40, Henry Stecher in 29:58.31, and Andrew Edney in 31:35.67.
 
Florida State's Lindsey Ickes was the winner of the women's race and FSU's Ferghal Curtin won the men's race. The Seminoles defended their team titles, winning both the men's and women's divisions for the second straight year.
 
The Catamounts are off until Oct. 1 when they compete in the Live in Lou Classic in Louisville, Ky.
 
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
8. Kate Mattison – 17:51.25
21. Caroline Hilliard – 18:18.08
37. Alesea Caldwell – 19:05.39
57. Landey Green – 19:30.11
62. Sydney Runyan – 19:35.49
66. Sara Klemm – 19:39.25
78. Madelynn Duffield – 20:01.22
96. Riley McKinney – 20:19.57
101. Sydney Lowe – 20:37.26
102. Jessica Connole – 20:39.13
114. Olivia Gemma – 21:24.44
117. Lauren Esselborn – 21:35.31


Men's Results: 8k
50. Will Mitchell – 26:46.09
66. Jalen Elwell – 27:15.46
68. John Davis – 27:25.69
70. Matthew Martin – 27:26.24
93. Grant Parham – 28:17.00
100. Nicholas Kiser – 28:45.65
108. Jonny Sherwood – 28:58.26
118. Mickey Schihl – 29:24.40
126. Henry Stecher – 29:58.31
139. Andrew Edney – 31:35.67