MORGANTOWN, W. Va. - The West Virginia University cross country team finished in third place with 122 points, on Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Louisville Classic, in Louisville, Kentucky. 
 
"This race had the feel of a championship race," said coach Sean Cleary. "There were very strong front-running teams and a lot of elite-level individuals from various schools. Anytime you get on the line and race quality teams, there is a higher level of expectation. For the majority of the group, this was our first race. We believe we can and will get a little better."
 
Ten Mountaineers competed in today's meet. Junior Ceili McCabe led the team with a first-place finish and a personal best time of 16:27.8. Redshirt junior Katherine Dowie followed behind in 17th place and finished the 5k in a personal best time of 17:01.9.
 
"This was a nice moment for Ceili. It's not often you have a winner at such a high-quality meet. She looked very strong out there the entire way," Cleary said. 

Additionally, fifth-year senior Hayley Jackson finished the 5k in 32nd place in a time of 17:21.2. She was followed by redshirt junior Mikaela Lucki, who made her West Virginia debut. Lucki placed 34th and finished in a personal WVU career-best time of 17:23.9.

The squad saw another Mountaineer debut from fifth-year senior Sylvia Russell, who finished in 38th place, in 17:31.9. Russell also saw a personal WVU career-high time. 
 
Following along, sophomore Maria Kaylor placed 75th in a time of 17:53.8, while senior Charlotte Wood finished in 147th (18:27.6).
 
To close out the Mountaineers in the 5k, redshirt senior Malina Mitchell (314th), redshirt junior Samantha Hatcher (319th) and sophomore Megan Weaver (325th) competed at the Louisville Classic.
 
WVU was one of 44 schools racing in the Louisville Classic, with a total of 399 runners. A total of 88 collegiate teams attended the race. 
 
"We have some big meets over the next six weeks. We need to keep them healthy, hungry and happy as we move on," said Cleary.
 
The Mountaineers return to action at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational, in Madison, WI., on Friday, Oct. 15, at Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.
 
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