GUNNISON, Colo. - The Adams State Men's and Women's Cross Country teams competed in their second meet of the 2018 season Saturday afternoon up in Gunnison at the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite hosted by Western State Colorado University. The Grizzlies earned top-five team finishes in both races that featured a number of conference foes.

The women earned a runner-up finish on the morning with a team score of 59 to lead the way. Tiffany Chistensen was the first Grizzly across the finish line placing eighth in a time of 18:52.16 for the 5K course. Less than a second behind her in ninth was teammate Annie Hughes with a time of 18:53 flat. Desire Montenegro was third for the Grizzlies with a time of 18:57.95 to earn an 11th place finish. Megan Levine ran a 19:20.75 to place 16th, with Tessa McCormick rounding out the team score at 18th in a time of 19:28.37.

Ashley Jansen was the only other competitor in the women's race for the Grizzlies as she posted a time of 20:24.68 and placed 37th. The women's team had a small group compete on Saturday as many runners used the weekend to rest and recover. The Grizzlies still had a solid showing in a race that featured seven teams from the Rocky Mountain Conference in the eight team field.

Western State took home the team title with a perfect score of 15. Reigning RMAC Runner of the Week was the top individual finisher with a winning time of 18:28.63. Metropolitan State-Denver finished third behind the Grizzlies with 76 team points.

On the men's side, Adams State finished third with 73 team points for the 8K course. Kale Adams crossed the line first for the Grizzlies, finishing in ninth with a time of 26:55.48. Two spots back in 11th for Adams State was Paddy Robb in a time 26:59.40. Devin Paredes checked in at the No. 3 spot for the men with a time of 27:01.11 to place 13th. The next runner for Adams State came at the 27:47.97 mark in Austin Speer who placed 31st. Ro Paschal rounded out the team scoring with a 33rd place finish in a time of 27:51.82

Also competing for the Adams State men were Grayson Freeman (27:53.83, 36th), Jackson Roberts (28:27.56), Hugo Nieves (29:19.42, 60th), Lane Hoskinson (29:44.61, 65th), and Preston Hopkins (30:45.31, 72nd). The men's team had a larger squad than the women but still rested a number of their top performers. The Grizzlies still put together a solid effort to place in the top-three. The men's race also featured seven RMAC teams in the eight team field.

Host institution Western State took home the team crown for the men with 36 points, while Colorado State-Pueblo was second with 53 points. CSU-Pueblo's Marcelo Laguera was the individual winner with a time of 25:58.87.

The Grizzlies will have some time before they are back at the starting line. Their next race will not be until Oct. 15 when they head to Hays, Kan. for the Fort Hays State Tiger Open.