The Southwestern Men’s Cross Country team started the season in impressive fashion by capturing the top 7 places and 12 of the top 14 spots at the Twilight Opener against the University of Dallas at Berry Springs.

First-years Sam Martinez and Thomas Bobbitt came hot off the line for their first collegiate meet taking first and second place, respectively, with a times of 16:44.0 and 16:51.3. Junior Dan Rudd was hot on their trail placing in third in 16:56.0. Junior Allen Smith (pictured right) came in fourth in 17:25.6, senior Josh Gideon took fifth in a time of 17:28.9 and sophomore Zach Freeland’s 17:32.5 earned him sixth place. Senior Matthew Broussard finished in a time of 17:42.8 to round out the top seven.

After Concordia’s Warren Sanders finished in eighth place at 17:43.0 another onslaught of Pirates came through the finish line. Junior Sebastian Winker came in at 18:01.7 for ninth, junior Addison English took tenth at 18:44.6, sophomore Sam Marsh finished in 11th at 20:43.4, first-year Brady Kent took 12th in a time of 21:12.3 and junior Brian Schaefer rounded out the Pirates with a 14th place finish in a time of 22:53.7.

Southwestern will now head to the University of Texas at Tyler for an invitational meet on Saturday.