ALAMOSA, Colo. – Western State Colorado University cross country opened the competitive season at the 25^th Joe I. Vigil Open hosted by Adams State University this morning. Senior Sophie Seward highlighted for Western, capturing the women's 5k race. Both the men and the women's teams finished second in the team competition.
 
In the women's 5k race, Sophie Seward showed all indications that she will be a force to reckon with in 2018. Leading a partial Western women's team from the gun, Seward established position in the top pack early.
 
Running largely in the top three positions through approximately four kilometers, Seward looked comfortable and competitive. Cruising down the cart path at Cattails Golf Course, Seward pushed into the lead and immediately gained a few meters of separation from her Adams State competitors.
 
Over the final kilometer of the race, Seward powered away from the field to take the win in 17:47.9.
 
After putting herself in position early, Kennedy Rufener continued to fight through the race against a tough Adams State pack finishing seventh in 18:08.9 for her first cross country race at altitude.
 
Cassidy Ahrens was the next Mountaineer across the line, finishing 11^th in 18:44.
 
Following Ahrens, Bailey Sharon finished 17^th in 19:17.6. Lindi Congour rounded-out the scoring for Western in 20^th place (19:29.2).
 
Adams State won the women's team race 21-42, with Western holding out several crucial athletes.
 
Prior to the women taking the course, the Mountaineer men tested their mettle at eight kilometers.
 
In the early goings, the Western men positioned themselves near the front establishing a two team race – Mountaineers versus Grizzlies. As the race progressed, it would come down to seeing which team had the stronger pack presence on the day.
 
With eventual race winner Sydney Gidabuday well away from the field in the first 800 meters the race between the Mountaineers and Grizzlies would unfold over the next seven kilometers.
 
The Western pack of Ross Husch, Taylor Stack, Evan Sutherland, and Charlie Sweeney lasted through approximately half the race before the Mountaineers went their own way.
 
Stack firmly ensconced himself in the top pack with Husch maintaining contact as well.
 
Battling to the line, Stack finished fifth in 25:02.5 overall just behind Adams State's Elias Gedyon in 25:02.3. Husch would be the next Mountaineer in uniform across the line in eighth place in 25:19.7.
 
After losing contact with his teammates, Sweeney surged back through the field to finish 10^th in 25:38.
 
Evan Sutherland was the next Mountaineer across the line in 21st. 
 
The Grizzly men took the team title over the Mountaineers, 17-52.

Western returns to the course on September 15th as they host the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite.