MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State men's and women's cross country teams completed their two-meet weekend with the Eagle men taking second at the seven-team Mike and Mary Kay Johnson Classic on Saturday at the Alumni Fields Cross Country Course in Berea, Ky.
MSU tallied 50 points, just five behind team champion Lindsey Wilson. Berea took third with 76 points, Maryville (Tenn.) was fourth with 106 points, Union (Ky.) was fifth with 112 points, Pikeville was sixth with 136 points and Kentucky State was seventh with 205 points.
The course was unconventional from Eagle coach
Clay Dixon's perspective.
"It was wild. I knew there was a creek, and the course had some trail running, but they had about half of the race out in the trails with roots and logs they were jumping over. So, times are irrelevant," he said. "I think they had fun doing something unique. (For) many of the guys, it was their first 8K, so it was good to get experience. Both (the) men and women came away with some individual awards, so that is good as well."
With Morehead State's top 10 runners in each gender competing at Friday's Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala., Saturday's races offered a chance for others to step up and be the stars.
Freshman
Brody Coleman was the top overall finisher for the Blue and Gold, taking seventh in the 8K race in 28:39.1. Sophomore
Noah Bunting followed in ninth in 20:58.7 as six of the seven Eagle entrants placed in the top 20. It was the first 8K of the season and the first for the MSU freshmen guys.
"For me the 8K today was just a learning experience. I didn't set any time goals but just to compete, learn, and basically trust in God and 'Let Jesus take the wheel'," Coleman said. "I took it out pretty conservative hoping to have something left in the tank, but I went a little too conservative the middle two miles, so it was hard to make that back up. But overall, I'm definitely happy with how it turned out, considering it was the longest race I've ever (run) by two miles."
Two weeks ago, in his first meet as an Eagle, Coleman finished the Thundering Herd Invitational in 38th in 17:05.4.
"Compared to Marshall, (today) was a lot better," he said. "I was starting to feel like myself again, getting my competitiveness and turnover back. So now it's just about progressing each race and being intentional but trusting God's timing and his plan rather than my own."
Freshman
Weston Blair was third on the team, placing 11th in 29:24.3. Sophomore
Brady Baker was next in 13th in 29:53.0, followed by freshman
Carter Lamb in 15th in 30:13.9, freshman
Liam Parido in 16th in 30:23.8 and sophomore
Aidan Whitsell in 31st in 32:30.6. A total of 62 runners toed the start line.
Lindsey Wilson's Justin Stearns won the men's race in 27:08.9.
The women only entered four runners, so it did not qualify for the team competition, which was won by host Berea with 17 points. Maryville (Tenn.) was second with 62 points, followed by Union (Ky.) with 72 points and Pikeville with 89 points.
Berea Mountaineer Madison Stonestreet also captured the individual title after covering the 5K course in 18:52.7.
All four Eagle women were unable to complete their race at the Thundering Herd Invitational because of the combination of oppressive heat and injuries. That was not the case at Berea, where freshman
Natalie Cotton paced the Blue and Gold by finishing in 13th in 23:13.0.
"The race wasn't ideal with the gravel and trails, but it was mostly flat and (I) felt that gave (me) the push towards the finish. Goals were to just finish and push through after having had ankle problems (at the) last meet at Marshall that didn't allow me to finish," she said. "I wanted to get out fast and ease (my way) throughout (the race). (I) wanted to go fast on the first mile and ease into a steadier pace through the rougher parts in miles two and three, and of course finish strong. It felt good to get out and finish even with (the) injury."
Sophomore
Lani Baskett was 21st in 24:44.5, with sophomore
Emily Spradlin 22nd in 25:15.4 and junior
Hope Harris 27th in 26:06.8 among the 43 entries.
The entire Eagle squad will reconvene for its next meet at the 39th Annual Winthrop Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 28 in Rock Hill, S.C.
