Bolivar, MO – The College of the Ozarks Bobcat and Lady Cat Cross-Country teams made the short trip north to Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar last weekend and started the 2023 running season.

Competing against 11 other teams, many of which were NCAA Division II, the Lady Cats opened the day in the women’s 5k. After a solid finish to the 2023 season, the Lady Cats picked up where they left off a year ago. Emily Staal (Central City, IA) led the Lady Cats to a 4th place finish and set the pace with her time of 19:24.3, which was good for 17th place out of 104 runners. Trinity Sadosky (Austin, AR) finished just behind Staal in 19th place with a time of 19:28.1. Rebecca Loya (Springfield, MO) turned in a time of 20:09.2, Keena Goze (Rogers, AR) recorded a time of 20:13.3, Lauren Cowden (Batesville, AR) finished with a time of 21:19.6, Sarah Alferink (Holland, MI) logged a 21:59.3 race, and Gracie Gatton (Altamont, KS), Gracie Vestal (Conway, MO), and Jacquiline O’Harver (Desoto, MO) rounded out the field with times of 24:02.6, 24:09.1, and 25.26.2 respectively.

The Bobcats turned in a 7th place finish in the 13-team field and they were led by returning runner, Tanner Bailey (Piedmont, OK). Bailey’s time of 20:33.0 over the 6.25k race was good for 21st place out of 162 runners. Lydon Swofford (Mannford, OK) was next in line for the Bobcats with his time of 21:28.7. Drew Rose (Waterloo, IL) turned in a time of 22:11.3, Cole Chafin (Willow Springs, MO) finished with a time of 22:52.4, Caleb Fewin (Carthage, MO) posted a time of 24:02.9, Alex Frizzell (Troy, MO) finished with a time of 24:22.4, Danial Chupp (Inola, OK) recorded a time of 24:44.2, Gabe Whiteman (Marionville, MO) finished with a time of 25:16.1 and Hunter McKinney (Houston, MO) crossed the line with a time of 25:50.6.

Both the Bobcats and Lady Cats are off to a solid start as they look ahead to their post season goals. The Lady Cats fourth-place finish and the Bobcats seventh-place finish was impressive against a tough and talented field. They now have a measuring stick for where they need to be, but the performance at SBU definitely gives them something to build on.