The men’s and women’s cross-country teams traveled to the University of Kansas to participate in the Rim Rock Invitational on Saturday. Senior Martina Tresch finished fifth and junior Laura Galvan finished eighth. Three other Wildcat women placed in the top 25 with Tresch and Galvan. The 6k on Saturday was Tresch’s first race of that caliber since 2011, but she said her strong showing exceeded her expectations.
“I was definitely a little nervous because it was my first 6k since the 2011 season,” Tresch said in a press release from Saturday. “I did not know what to expect with myself, I think I ran okay today.”
The men, who finished with a bronze as well, only had one runner finish in the top 10: Ryan Hershner finished eighth (25:25.91). Four other men finished in the top 25 along with Hershner, three of which were freshmen.
Head coach Michael Smith said he was satisfied with his men’s effort this week.
“They ran as well as they have in a while,” Smith said in the press release on Saturday. “They did a very good job of competing today and the freshmen have improved significantly. It is a work in progress but the improvement is very impressive.”
The K-State women finished behind Kansas and Michigan, and the men behind Rice and Kansas. The Wildcats will get a week to breathe before heading up to Terre Haute, Ind. for the Pre-National Invitational on Oct. 19. This will be the first time that both teams will see the NCAA Championships course this year.