Denim Millward

Sports Editor

The Idaho State men’s and women’s cross country teams kicked off the season Friday, August 29 in a meet against Southern Utah at the Centennial Course in Pocatello.

While the men were defeated by the Thunderbirds 19-36, the Bengal women topped their Southern Utah counterparts 18-43.

“Both teams ran really well,” head coach Brian Janssen told ISU Sports Information.  “The men’s team is still pretty young but they improved over last year.  I’m very pleased with the women.  They were solid in the front.”

Senior Kylie Hutchinson took first in the 3K race with a time of 10:34.75, followed by Katie Nicholls in second with a time of 10:38.65.

Hutchinson’s accomplishment was an impressive one considering she hadn’t raced in well over a year due to a back injury.

“I felt really unprepared coming into this race,” Hutchinson said of her back injury and the subsequent time off she had to take.  “Today was a confidence booster.”

On the Men’s side, sophomore Ty James finished with a 5K time of 19:43.08, good for fourth place and the top finish overall for Idaho State.

Jacob Campbell finished fifth with a time of 19:48.93, while Andrew Kaler finished eighth, clocking a time of 20:01.43.

The Bengals next travel to Provo for a matchup against Brigham Young University September 13.

On September 20, the Bengals will return home for a meet against NAIA powerhouse College of Idaho Yotes.  The meet will begin at 9:30 a.m.

The final home meet for the Bengal Cross Country team will be the Alumni Meet on October 26.