Guillou Places Ninth to Lead Cross Country in First Meet

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee sophomore Jonathan Guillou placed ninth to lead a fifth-place showing by the men Friday at the Belmont Opener in Nashville, Tenn.

Guillou placed three Blue Raider men in the Top 21 in the opening meet of the season for the cross country team, finishing in a time of 15:20.85 on the five kilometer course. Senior Derek Dell was 18th in a time of 15:44.13, while senior Steve Safstrom came in 21st in 15:44.96.

"Jonathan picked up where he left off last year and ran very well, and Derek and Steve also had a good showing for the first meet," head coach Dean Hayes said. "This was as strong a meet as we will run in all season with Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Alabama and Mississippi State, so the fifth place is a very good start by the men."

The other four male competitors all finished from 46th-65th, with junior Tony Carufe placing 46th (17:14.82), sophomore Matthew Young in 53rd (17:55.64), freshman Luke Pleger 59th (18:46.37) and freshman Ryan Hood 65th (20:44.33).

For the women, newcomers Ashley Comstock and Kaitlyn Hammond were 42nd and 43rd, respectively, to pace a 10th-place showing.

Comstock ran the 4K course in 16:00.05, while Hammond finished in 16:01.13. Sara Lunning came in 52nd in 16:37.51, while Miranda Galloway was 67th in 17:21.58 and Marjorie Gombert placed 75th in 18:18.67.

"Ashley and Kaitlyn did well for their first time out, especially since our team has only been together for a couple of weeks," Hayes said. "We knew they would come into camp in shape, and it showed today."

Catherine Chester (83rd, 19:47.61), Ashley Thaler (84th, 19:55.47), Tiffany Sawyer (30:01.00) and Kerry Barrow (30:03.00) rounded out the rest of the Middle Tennessee women.

Both squads will participate in the UTC Opener in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Friday, September 9.

RESULTS
MEN - 5K
9. Jonathan Guillou, 15:20.85
18. Derek Dell, 15:44.13
21. Steve Safstrom, 15:48.96
46. Tony Carufe, 17:14.82
53. Matthew Young, 17:55.64
59. Luke Pleger, 18:46.37
65. Ryan Hood, 20:44.33

WOMEN - 4K
42. Ashley Comstock, 16:00.05
43. Kaitlyn Hammond, 16:01.13
52. Sara Lunning, 16:37.51
67. Miranda Galloway, 17:21.58
75. Marjorie Gombert, 18:19.67
83. Catherine Chester, 19:47.61
84. Ashley Thaler, 19:55.47
Tiffany Sawyer, 30:01.00
Kerry Barrow, 30:03.00

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