The Fontbonne University Men’s and Women’s Cross Country programs had strong showings at Saturday’s Maryville Invitational Cross Country Meet. The Men’s team finished in 2^nd place in the seven school race and the women finished in 4^th out of the 10 schools entered in their division.

The men finished behind nationally ranked Washington University and ahead of Hannibal-La Grange College, Blackburn College, Maryville University, Eureka College and St. Louis College of Pharmacy. The women finished behind nationally ranked Washington University, Lincoln University and St. Louis College of Pharmacy but ahead of Hannibal-LaGrange College, Stephens College, Webster University, Eureka College, Blackburn College and Maryville University. The meet was held on the campus of McCluer North High School.

The men were led for the second straight race by Freshman Everett Jackson (University City HS, University City, MO) who finished 15^th in a race of 56 runners. Jackson’s time was 17:42. He was followed across the finish line by team mates Zach Kassman (Northwest HS, Cedar Hill, MO) in a time of 18:25. The main push for the men’s second place finish came from Andre Stephens (Forest City HS, Forest City, AR), who moved from his customary position as the team’s 5^th runner, up to 3^rd place in a time of 18:44. His performance solidified the team’s outstanding showing. The top five were rounded out by Phil Yates (St. Dominic HS, O’Fallon, MO) and Nathan Uding (Ste. Genevieve HS, Ste. Genevieve, MO).

The women were once again led by freshman Rachel Hanson (Rossview HS, Clarksville, TN who finished 8^th in a field of 84 runners with a time of 21:04. She was supported in order by Alexandria Weatherby (Soldan HS, St. Louis, MO), Kay Hart (Central HS, Nashville, TN) and Tricia Morris (Trinity HS, Florissant, MO). All four women are freshman. The fifth finisher for the Griffins was Sophomore Kelly Schumacher (Lutheran South HS, St. Louis, MO).

The men and women’s teams will both next run in two weeks at the Gary Stoner Memorial Race in Fayette, MO.