Romeoville, Ill. – Three inches of rain overnight could not stop the Mountaineers. On Saturday, both Western Colorado University cross country teams took the title at the Lewis Conference Crossover Invitational. In the women's race, Western also took the individual title while sweeping the top three positions in the race. 
 
In a dominant display, the Western women captured the team title at the Conference Crossover with 38 points against four ranked opponents.. Second place Simon Fraser University tallied 146 as Western won the meet by over 100 points. 
 
Pacing the Mountaineers, Sophie Seward and Alicja Konieczek both hit the finish line in 21:39 as Seward was recorded the champion in the results. Not far behind, Aneta Konieczek crossed the line in 21:44.8 to finish third overall, giving the Mountaineers a one-three sweep. 
 
As if that were not enough, Kennedy Rufener would join her teammates inside the top ten with an eighth-place finish in 22:12.4. By then Western had half the finishers in the top eight while many times had not even brought their top athlete home.
 
In her best showing of the season, Cassidy Ahrens closed out Western's scoring in 24^thplace (22:44.1) helping Western accumulate their 38 point victory.  Soon after, both Malindi Congour (41^st) and Bailey Sharon (43^rd) would finish for Western, bring all seven athletes home in the top 45 in a field of over 200 athletes. 
 
The Western men also posted a strong showing, taking the title in a 27 team field. 
 
When all was said and done, the Mountaineers tallied a score of 84 points to best six nationally-ranked opponents in the process. Western beat runner-up, and No. 11, Queen's University of Charlotte of by 31 points on Saturday. 
 
After leading much of the race, Taylor Stack would ultimately finish in fifth-place with a 24:46.1 clocking. Stack's 4:58 per mile average showed great fitness in the wet conditions. His efforts paced a strong Mountaineer pack to the line for the third time this season. 
 
Stalwart freshman, Charlie Sweeney, was the next Mountaineer to across the line in 25:06.9 good enough for 14^thplace overall. Mere seconds later, Evan Sutherland would record his best effort in a Mountaineer uniform finishing 15^thoverall in 25:09.8. Finishing in 16^thplace to round out a trio for the Mountaineers, Ross Husch crossed the line  in 25:11.2.
 
For perspective on the field, Sweeney, Sutherland, and Husch all beat the defending indoor National Champion in the mile to the line.
 
With four-athletes across the line in the top twenty, Western just needed one more piece of the puzzle to close out the day. 
 
Ricardo Esqueda finished as Western's fifth-man, nailing down 34^thplace  in 25:36.3.
 
Elsewhere, the Mountaineers competed at MSU-Denver's Roadrunners Invitational where Gage Mayo lead the Mountaineer men with a 27:02 clocking while Alizabeth Williams finished in 24:37.3 for the Mountaineers. 
 
Next, Western hosts the annual W Mountain Run before turning their attention to the RMAC Championships on November 3.