Trailblazer Cross Country has good showing at tough Evansville Opener

NEWBURGH, Ind. – In a field consisting mostly of top-level NCAA Division I programs, the Vincennes University Trailblazer Cross Country team held their own and came away with a pair of strong finishes at Friday's Evansville Opener at Angel Mounds.

The VU men's team came away with a fourth-place finish, trailing only Division I teams Ohio State, Indiana State and Marquette.

The Trailblazer women's team placed sixth, trailing behind Ohio State, Marquette, Indiana State, Kentucky Wesleyan and Evansville.

Vincennes' men's team was paced by sophomore runners Manamanya Opiew and Ian Boit, as well as freshman Earnest Momodu, who came away with 24th, 25th and 26th place finishes.

Freshmen Reed Lawless and Austin Nigh rounded out the Trailblazer runners, with Lawless finishing 28th with Nigh finishing at 29th.

The Trailblazer men's team was also running short-handed, as sophomores Walter Tanui and Joe Records did not run for the Blue and Gold.

"Obviously Ohio State was a machine," VU Interim Head Cross Country Coach Marty Rogier said. "They took it out very fast as a team and made everyone chase them faster in the beginning than I would have liked."

"Not having Walter was a little disappointing, with him in there our top five will be pretty good and it could really be interesting by the end of the season."

VU's women's team was led by 2020 All-American Kyra Young, who set a time of 20:34.2, which was good for 24th place.

Freshmen Brittany Page and Daisie Kinnett followed close behind in their first collegiate races, with Page finishing 27th and Kinnett ending in 31st place.

Kaitlyn Koenig and Hope Laughlin completed the Trailblazer runners with Koenig finishing in 37th and Laughlin placing 40th.

"I think overall our team has a great attitude and have been very patient with their new coach and are eager to work hard at improving," Rogier said.

Vincennes will look to improve on this outing as they begin preparing for next week's Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods Invitational at Lavern Gibson in Terre Haute on Saturday, Sept. 11. The first race is set to begin at 10 a.m. eastern.

"I thought all things considered; it was still hot, very stiff competition and a lot of these kids first college race, that we did very well," Rogier added. "I think we learned and will use that to adjust our training a bit and should see improvement across the board by the next meet in Terre Haute"

TEAM RESULTS

MEN'S 8K

Ohio State – 15 points, avg. 25:31.6

Indiana State – 60 points, avg. 26:19.8

Marquette – 65 points, avg. 26:27.7

Vincennes – 132 points, avg. 28:58.5

Evansville – 134 points, avg. 29:15.8

Oakland City – 182 points, avg. 32:54.7

WOMEN'S 5K

Ohio State – 16 points, avg. 17:51.5

Marquette – 53 points, avg. 18:48.3

Indiana State – 69 points, avg. 19:17.3

Kentucky Wesleyan – 132 points, avg. 20:41.8

Evansville – 148 points, avg. 21:06.3

Vincennes – 159 points, avg. 21:37.3

Oakland City – 187 points, avg. 23:16.5

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

MEN'S 8K

Manamanya Opiew – 24, 28:08.3

Ian Boit – 25, 28:35.3

Ernest Momodu – 26, 28:55.7

Reed Lawless – 28, 29:35.7

Austin Nigh – 29, 29:37.4

Tate Hall – 30, 30:36.6

Trey Browne – 32, 31:06.2

WOMEN'S 5K

Kyra Young – 24, 20:34.2

Brittany Page – 27, 21:04.9

Daisie Kinnett – 31, 21:11.1

Kaitlyn Koenig – 37, 21:42.7

Hope Laughlin – 40, 23:33.6

Kyra Davis – 44, 28:08.1