The Indiana University Kokomo men and women’s cross country teams competed at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro, KY for the Brescia Invitational on Oct. 7.   

Both teams ran well, setting personal bests and placing well team wise. The women competed in the 5000-meter race while the men competed in the 8000-meter race.  

The women placed third out of 11 teams defeating conference opponents St. Mary-of-the-Woods and Indiana University East.   

The Cougars were, once again, led by senior and 7th place finisher Casey Lechner, who ran a personal best of 19:14. Not far behind Lechner was freshman Leslie Sprankles, who also ran a personal best time of 19:39 and placed 11th.   

Freshman Joy McDivitt ran her personal best with a 19:51, achieving 17th place. Senior April Chrisman also ran her personal best running a 20:00 and placing 21st. Rounding out the Cougars’ top five was sophomore Ella Kantz, running a 20:39 and placing 38th.  

“It feels amazing to begin to push the 19-minute barrier,” Lechner said in her post-race interview. “There’s more work to be done, but we are just taking it day by day, especially myself, as I am just soaking up every moment.”  

“Our ladies ran great,” Coach Josh Colvin said after the race. “We took down conference favorite St. Mary-of-the-Woods, now we know we can take them down, it is just about doing it at the conference meet.”  

The men placed third out of 12 teams, defeating conference opponents St. Mary-of-the-Woods and Brescia. The Cougars were led by senior Cyrus Felger, who ran a personal best of 26:28 and placed seventh overall.  

Right behind Felger was sophomore Drew Caldwell, who placed ninth with a 26:33. Caldwell was followed by junior Luis Saldana who ran a time of 26:57 and placed 14th. Senior Bryce Jennings placed 16th, running a 27:00.  

Rounding out the Cougars five was junior Nathan Lozoya, placing 32nd and running a personal best 27:31.  

The men tied with Lindsey Wilson for third place but edged them out in the tiebreaker. Tiebreakers go based on how both teams’ 1st through 5th runners match up.  

In this instance, Felger, Caldwell, and Saldana all finished before Lindsey Wilson’s numbers one through three: enough to defeat them.  

“Four more weeks.” Is all Caldwell said when asked questions after the race.  

Caldwell is alluding to the conference meet, which will be hosted in Kokomo at Northview Church on Nov. 5.  

“We ran well, but not well enough,” Colvin said after the race. “Losing to IU East by 4 points stings, but even if we won, it wouldn’t have mattered if we can’t do it at the conference meet.”