OXFORD, Ohio – The Morehead State Men's and Women's Cross Country teams kicked off their 2019 seasons with the Redhawk Rumble hosted by Miami (OH) on Saturday morning.
 
In the season-opening event, which was the debut for Clay Dixon as interim head coach, the men competed in an 8K while the women ran a 6K event.
 
For the men, senior Jarrett Mattingly earned the highest finish of any Eagles' runner in the event, claiming 11^th place with a time of 25:31.6.
 
Overall on the men's side, Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky took first place after placing seven runners in the top-10. The host Redhawks earned a second-place finished while Morehead State finished third despite Mattingly finishing higher than any runner for Miami.
 
Also competing for the MSU men's team in the event: freshman Garrett Watts (26:47.4, 27^th), junior Cody Chism (27:33.9, 32^nd), freshman Kyle Embry (28:15.2, 36^th), freshman Justin Chavez (28:20.3, 37^th), freshman Michael Dunagan (28:40.8, 39^th), junior Darby Pillow (29:19.5, 41^st), junior Josh Grogan (29:50.1, 42^nd), junior Cole  Ralenkotter (29:59.6, 43^rd), and freshman Richard Knupp (32:58.7, 44^th).
 
For the women, senior Shelby Watkins turned in the best time for Morehead State after logging a time of 23:41.7 for an 18^th place finish in the women's 6K event. Just off the pace off Watkins, senior Alison Chinn earned a 20^th place finish with a time of 24:08.0.
 
Miami earned the first-place team finish on the women's side after edging out EKU by a point. Both the Redhawks and Colonels placed five runners in the top-10, however, the hosts claimed 10 spots in the top-20 as compared the EKU's eight. Morehead State finished the event third.
 
Also running in the event for the MSU women's squad: junior Olivia Chapman (24:47.6, 24^th), junior Madison Pelfrey (24:53.4, 25^th), senior Abbie Dorn (25:47.9, 28^th), freshman Mary Alice Thornburg (26:26.8, 29^th), freshman Abbey Mohan (26:48.1, 30^th), sophomore Reese Helton (26:52.3, 31^st), freshman Riliegh Owens (27:14.4, 33^rd), and sophomore Carrie Staviski (27:41.3, 34^th).
 
Morehead State's men's and women's runners will be back in action on Oct. 5, in the Greater Louisville Classic which is hosted by the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky.
 
Fans can follow the MSU Cross Country teams on twitter with the handle @MSUEaglesCCTRK.