ST. JOSEPH – Both the men’s and women’s Missouri Western cross country teams finished on top at the program’s first-ever home meet Saturday. The women’s team ended with nine of the top ten finishers, while the men’s team had seven of the top ten runners.

The women finished with an average time of 21:45.57 in the 5K event with an overall score of 20. The Missouri Valley women finished second with an average time of 25:45.57 and an overall score of 43.

The Griffons were led on the women’s side by sophomore Megan Gillen. Gillen finished with an overall time of 21:03.79, earning her a second place finish. Freshman Paige Kvale ran a time of 21:46.88, good enough for third place. It was all Griffons in the remaining top eleven finishers.

The Griffons also won the men’s championship. Missouri Western finished with an average time of 25:05.84 in the 7K event, earning the squad an overall score of 20. Finishing second was Bellevue with an average time of 28:16.30

The top Griffon earned second in the men’s race as well, as freshman Andrew Wright ran a time of 24:24.61. Brandon Colner rounded out the top three with a time of 24:55.06. Fellow Griffon Jacob Oyler was not far behind and crossed the finish line less than five seconds after Colner, earning him fourth place.

Griffon Cross Country will compete again in two weeks, as they will travel to Joplin for the Missouri Southern Stampede.

— MWSU Athletics —