The men’s and women’s cross-country team traveled to Lock Haven University this weekend, for the Lock Haven University Invitational meet.  

The women placed 9^th out of 17 teams and the men placed 10^th out of 21 teams. 

Both teams headed into this meet after having a week off.  

Despite the rain and muddy courses, sophomore Reagan Pettis led the ladies, finishing the 6k race 18^th out of 168 runners. Soon behind Pettis, was sophomore Grace Tanksley who finished 36^th.  

There are challenges each week and this week, not only were their tough competitors, but the ladies fought against the weather as well.  

“By the time they got to the line, the course was just completely muddy, tour up,” Head Coach Chris Hardie said. “It was the fourth race of the day and with so many people in each race it just got torn up really quick.”  

Despite the weather, the women are in a perfect position to continue into the more competitive part of the season.  

“The ladies are progressing really well, I don’t think we are going to change much,” Hardie said. “They came in with lower milage then some teams in the past and it has worked for them, they are starting to progress now which is good.” 

The men had the same challenge this week as the women: running in the heavy rains. But the rain did not put a damper on their performance. 

Senior Andrew Kasper led the men placing 18^th in the 8k run. Soon after Kasper crossed the finish line, graduate student Quintin Weaver placed 25^th in the race. Both runners ran under 27 minutes.  

“I think we did really well, I was really happy,” Hardie said. “Four of our men ran their personal bests, two of them it was their first colligate 8k, so they were racing really hard.” 

This meet was important for the men to build on as they have some work to progress into the back half of the 2023 season.  

“Men specifically need to work on their speed endurance,” Hardie said. “They are having a hard time extending out to the 8k.” 

The men’s and women’s Cross-Country team will head to Thiel College on Saturday Sept. 29 for the Tomcat Rumble.