IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Senior Kellyn Johnson led the way for a Shocker squad competing at less than full strength in their season-opening cross country meet at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa.
Both the men's and women's teams finished third behind host Iowa and Texas A&M. Johnson was the top finisher for the women, while freshman Trace Kendrick was the first Shocker across the line for the men.
Johnson left a seven-second gap between her and the second-place runner for a victory in the first meet of the season. She covered the three-kilometer distance in 10 minutes, 18 seconds.
The second finisher on the women's side was Jenna Wood (11:14.15) in 15th, while Kimber Lemon finished 17th (11:16.88) in her first cross country race in nearly two years. Heather Klotz was 22nd (11:27.19) and Hali Mobley was 24th (11:33.51) to round out the women's top five.
On the men's side, Kendrick ran well in his first race of the season, moving up in the field throughout the six-kilometer distance. The freshman from Scott City, Kan., finished ninth overall, clocking a time of 19:27.31.
Next for the Shocker men was fellow freshman Scott Ufford in 24th (20:29.02), just ahead of Bryce Forward (25th, 20:30.16) and Kevin Pendergast (26th, 20:32.32). Jake Stecklein was 28th in the race with a time of 20:55.98.
The Shockers will be back home next weekend for the 60th annual J.K. Gold Classic at the RAFT Golf Course in Augusta, Kan. The meet is set for Saturday, Sept. 6.
-- Wichita State --
