DENVER, Colo. – The Colorado School of Mines men's and women's cross country teams opened their respective seasons Saturday at the Roadrunners Invitational with a strong showing by the Oredigger youth at Washington Park in South Denver.
 
Mines' men finished second with 84 points. They were second only to NCAA Division I Colorado. The Oredigger men beat out DI Air Force, DI Wyoming, and DI Northern Colorado along with Colorado Mesa, MSU Denver, Regis, and Colorado Northwestern Community College. Mines' women took fourth after scoring 130 points. Their field was also loaded with NCAA Division I teams including Colorado, Wyoming, Northern Colorado, and Air Force.
 
Perfect racing conditions underscored the start of the day including cool temperatures and no rain. The gun for the men's collegiate 8K started competition and the season for Mines. Early action saw the University of Colorado take up the top seven spots in the field – an advantage they held for a majority of the race. Everything else spread out behind the Buffs as the Orediggers raced as a team which fueled their second-place finish. Coming down the stretch, it was Cole Fiorillo crossing the line first for Mines taking 14th overall. The rest of the Orediggers' scoring five featured Jack Sheehan, Gael McLain Martinez, Curtis Smela, and Quinton Rodriguez. Nathaniel Bartunek, Kai Wagner, Jackson Rogers, Grayson Milne, Owen Mangrum, Julien Frazier, Asher Feddock, Ty Forbes, and Duncan Lorang also raced for Mines.
 
The women's collegiate 6K immediately followed the men's race and played out in similar fashion with CU putting together an impressive performance. Mines' ladies were unfazed and stuck with the plan, running together and placing well. Chloe Savoy's strong race made her the Orediggers' top finisher at 19th overall. Maria Forster was right behind in 20th. The Mines trio of Emma Chesterman, Sasha Kelly, and Reese Kindig rounded out the Oredigger scoring. Kara Tokubo, Elsa Vessely, Elise Wrenholt, Brooke Bundt, Lilly Lukens, Kaitlyn Burns, Sorrelle Salcido, and Gwenyth Elizalde represented Mines on the course as well.
 
Mines' next race will be the Gans Creek Classic on Friday, Sept. 25, in Columbia, Mo.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines cross country on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.