BREA, Calif. - The LMU cross country team competed at the Mark Covert Classic at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, Calif. on Saturday morning in their first competition of the season.Â
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The women's team moved into fifth overall in the team competition on the last mile of the course after sitting in sixth for most of the race.Â
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The men's team finished ninth in the 8k.Â
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Freshmen runners showed out in both races. Ben Hefner (27:32.5), the freshman from Westlake Village, Calif. finished first on the men's side and 55
th overall in the race. Fellow freshmen
Carson Foster (27:37.1) and
Preston Conner (27:51.8) followed closely behind to pick up the top three scoring slots on the men's team. Â
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"I am proud that they fought despite the conditions," said head coach Jason Zarb-Cousins. The starting temperature for the race beginning at 8:30 a.m. (PT) was 83 degrees.Â
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The same story was told on the women's side as freshman Hayden Washington (18:53.3), in her first collegiate race, finished 8
th overall and claimed the top finish on the women's side.Â
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Avery Doan (19:54.5) returned from injury to place fourth for the Lions and Maya Kalach (20:40.5) placed fifth for the Lions to be counted in the scoring for the first time in her LMU career.Â
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The Lions will host the next meet, the LMU South Bay Twilight Meet, at Wilson Park in Torrance, Calif. Â
