Live Stats

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A new cross country season is upon us as the University of Evansville Cross Country squads begin the 2014 campaign with a trip to Nashville, Tenn. for the Belmont Opener.
 
The race is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Percy Warner Park.  The list of schools participating include: Austin Peay, Belmont, Bethel (Tenn.), Kentucky, Lipscomb, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, Purdue, Tennessee State, UAB, Vanderbilt and Western Kentucky.
 
On the men's side, the Purple Aces return their top runner from last season – senior Josh Genet.  Genet led the Aces in all eight races last season, posting five top 12 finishes with his top race coming at the UE Invitational where he posted a 25:39.09 en route to a second place finish.  He took third place at the Fleet Foot Invitational, leading the men to the team victory.
 
Junior Jon Ashby also had a solid 2013 season.  His best finish came at UE's victory at the Fleet Foot Invitational.  He posted an 8^th place finish thanks to a season-best 26:37.1.  Freshmen Ross Frondorf and Ben Woolems were impressive in their inaugural rounds at UE.  Frondorf opened the year with a 17^th at the Mid-America Opener and was equally as strong at the UE Invitational where he set a PR of 26:48.55 on his way to a 14^th place effort, his best finish of the season.
 
Woolems also had a strong beginning to his career, coming home 15^th at the opener with a 20:06.86.  His top 8K effort was a 17^th at the Fleet Foot race, where he helped the Aces men to a victory.
 
The women look to replace one of the top runners in program history with the graduation of Kelby Jenkins.  Jenkins won four times in 2013 while posting a pair of seconds.  She set the program 5K mark in her final home event, running a 17:27.27.  At the top of the list to take that next step is junior Laurel Wolfe.  As a sophomore, Wolfe ran several strong races, capped off by a PR at the UE Invitational where she came in 7^th with an 18:45.23.  She also registered top 20 outings at the Fleet Foot Invitational (12^th) and the Mid-America Opener (16^th).
 
Another runner who made strides last year was current senior Kirsten Perrey.  She began the year with her first of three top 20 finishes at the UE Opener before coming on strong a few weeks later at the Fleet Foot event.  Her time of 19:01.3 was her top 5K time at Evansville and also gave her a 7^th place finish. 
 
The women are scheduled to run first before the men take their turn following the women's race.  The season continues with another Friday race next week as the Aces travel to the Eastern Illinois Invitational on Sept. 5.
 
Fans can following along using the live stat link above.  Check @UEAthletics on Twitter and the UE Athletics App for real-time coverage.