LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Sean Wigger recorded a 27:25.3 time in his first college race, pacing William Woods University with a 31st-place finish out of 93 runners in the 8k Spire Sunset Showdown Friday at the University of Saint Mary Cross Country Course. The Owls took fifth out of seven teams with 152 points and a top-five average time of 29:43.

"I was very excited to race my first race with my new team at William Woods," Wigger said. "The race was well executed and tactically run. I can't wait for our next race at Gans Creek!"

Course conditions were in the low 80s, with little cloud cover, no wind, and a comfortable course featuring a combination of low-cut grass and dirt, as well as rolling hills with several straightaways.

"This was a very young group of runners today, and Sean Wigger did exceptionally well to lead the team in his first college race," William Woods cross country coach Gregory A. Keeler said. "Only two of them have even run an 8k before. They learned lessons that can only be learned on the course."

Following Wigger, WWU's top-five runners were sophomore Justus Yates in 49th at 28:18.1, freshman Hunter Bickell in 69th at 30:10.4, freshman Tyler Grimes in 72nd at 30:58.3 and senior Gabe Soest in 78th at 31:42.7.

The Owls next compete on a course familiar to their entire roster, Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., for the Larry Young Invitational, hosted by Columbia College at 6:15 p.m. Sep. 12.

Meet Results

31st (20 pts) Sean Wigger - 27:25.3 (First Collegiate Race)
49th (25 pts) Justus Yates - 28:18.1
69th (34 pts) Hunter Bickell - 30:10.4 (First Collegiate Race)
72nd (35 pts) Tyler Grimes - 30:58.3 (First Collegiate Race)
78th (38 pts) Gabe Soest - 31:42.7 (First Collegiate XC Race)
79th (39 pts) Landon Higgins - 31:52.9 (First Collegiate Race)
86th (43 pts) Charles Alderton - 33:55.1 (First Collegiate Race)
87th Mason Voegeli - 33:46.0
88th Josh Brinkmann - 35:10.2 (First Collegiate Race)

Team Scores

1st - No. 10 Saint Mary (Kan.) | 25 pts - 1, 2, 5, 8, 9, (10), (11)
Top-Five Average: 25:42

2nd - Benedictine (Kan.) | 40 pts - 3, 4, 6, 13, 14, (15), (18)
Top-Five Average: 26:06

3rd - Evangel | 73 pts - 7, 12, 16, 17, 21, (24), (30)
Top-Five Average: 26:49

4th - Friends | 128 pts - 22, 23, 26, 28, 29, (31), (32)
Top-Five Average: 28:26

5th - William Woods | 152 pts - 20, 25, 34, 35, 38, (39), (43)
Top-Five Average: 29:43

6th - Sterling | 156 pts - 19, 27, 33, 37, 40, (42)
Top-Five Average: 29:58

7th - Metropolitan CC | 212 pts - 36, 41, 44, 45, 46
Top-Five Average: 34:31