For the first time in over a decade, Southwestern Athletics hosted a men's and women's cross country meet on the campus of Southwestern University. Southwestern has hosted numerous meets in the past in San Gabriel park in Georgetown. But it has been some time since athletes have competed on campus. 

A consensus from the coaches and athletes, the course was one of the hardest tracks that anyone at the event has ever run.  Although the time was set at 8:00 AM for the women and 8:45 AM for the men, the temperature had already reached over 80 degrees and 75 percent humidity by the 8:00 AM start. 

On the women's side, Southwestern finished in fifth place with a total time of 2:20:09 and an average time of 28:01. Rachel Chiella finished just inside the top 15 at 15th place for the Pirates. Chiella performed outstandingly, running a personal best 6K with a total time of 25:32. 

Following four seconds behind Chiella was first-year from Happy Valley, Oregon, Breanna Steele. Steele averaged a 6:54.3 mile time and a total time of 24:44.7, good enough to land her inside the top 20 at 19th place. First-year Casey Gilbert and Hallie Martinez each ran 27:22.8 and 30:15.9, respectively. 

On the men's side, Southwestern showed they had the home course advantage, coming in with a good result at third place in the meet. The Pirates averaged 28:52 with a total time of 2:24.21. Xander Bailey ran well for the Pirates finishing in the top 10, right at 10th place. Bailey averaged a 5:34.6 mile, finishing the race in 27:43.6 less than ten seconds behind his personal best on a difficult course. William Wines, a freshman from San Diego, California, ran a solid race as well, rounding out the top 15 at 15th place for the Pirates with a total time of 28:10.7.

In the top 25 for the Pirates was Noah Dennis and Brian Armijo, who finished 20th and 25th respectively. Dennis ended his race with a final time of 28:31.5 while Armijo finished on a 29:04.5. 

Four Pirates in the top 25 on the men's side helped them secure third place on their home campus. The Pirates will host the Men's and Women's SCAC Cross Country Championships on October 29th. The Southwestern Showdown will undoubtedly give the two teams an advantage going into the Championship, having already had meet experience on the course. 

Both teams will compete in the Concordia Cross Country Classic in Pflugerville, Texas at the Northeast Metro Soccer Fields on Friday, September 23rd at 7:45 PM (Women) and 8:30 PM (Men).

Photo by Carlos Barron