The Northwest Missouri State men's and women's cross country teams swept the first meet of the season.

The Bearcat cross country teams dominated the Bearcat Open beating Washburn, Missouri Western, and Peru State.

The women had the top six times and had eight total runners in the top 10.

The Bearcat women were led by Senior Caroline Cunningham who placed first with a time of 18:15.41. Behind her in second was sophomore Kaylee Harp (18:50.64), senior Amber Owens finished third (19:00.24), freshman Cora Blaue in fourth (19:23.98), freshman Lydia McGlocklin in fifth (19:24.51), and sophomore Alyna Thibault in sixth (19:39.66). Sophomore Tori Castle (19:46.66) and freshman Whitney Post (19:49.84) finished eighth and ninth respectively.

Other Bearcat finishers included Sophomore Emily Saalfeld (13^th, 20:33.24), freshman Bailey Hays (14^th, 20:46.53), freshman Amanda Seggerman (20^th, 21:37.52), and sophomore Abi Albertsen (22^nd, 22:26.08).

In the men's 7k race, junior Reece Smith (1^st, 21:44.52), freshman Drew Atkins (2^nd, 22:05.88), and senior Jake Norris (3^rd, 22:10.13) all placed in the top three. Top 10 finishers for Northwest also included freshman Riley Witt (5^th, 22:32.18), sophomore Austin Goetsche (7^th, 23:04.89), freshman Yemane Kifle (8^th, 23:07.51), and freshman Carson Lauterbach (9^th, 23:10.50).

Senior Trevor Ramsdell (13^th, 23:34.10), freshman Ryan Campbell (15^th, 23:44.14), freshman Robert Nizzi (18^th, 24:12.37), junior Matt Goeckel (19^th, 24:23.17), freshman Brooks Mathis (22^nd, 24:41.94), and freshman Zach Pittman (25:37.37).

Next up for Bearcat cross country will be the Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational Saturday, September 17 in Lincoln, Neb.