TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's and women's cross country teams competed against a loaded field of NCAA Division I and III teams on Saturday morning through dense fog at the Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Course. The John McNichols Invitational is hosted annually by Indiana State University in memory of the legendary head coach whose vision for building a nationally-recognized cross country course resulted in multiple national meets being hosted over the last quarter of a century in Terre Haute. The NCAA Division III National meet will be held on the course in November of the year.

Leading the way for SMWC was senior Thomas Chapman who overcame an early slog through the conditions to finish strong and record a personal best and school record time of 25:55 in the 8k event. He finished in 73rd place overall.

Fanuel Tikabo recorded a time of 28:34 (165th place) while Jonathan Hayden posted a time of 29:23 (172nd place). Alec Smith's time of 30:27 came in 174th while Nathan McIntyre's mark of 31:19 was good enough for 177th place. Ethan DeHamer posted a time of 33:14 for a 182nd place finish.

Overall, the Pomeroys finished in 24th place among 27 teams.

For the women, SMWC finished in 22nd place of 23 competing teams. Quinlan Teague led the way for the Pomeroys with a time of 25:24 over the 6K course which was good enough for 104th place. Brinlee McCloud covered the course in a time of 27:00 for a finish in 133rd place. Mercedes Schemmel tallied a time of 27:10 which came in 141st place while Deborah Murphy posted a mark of 27:47 whcih finished in 146th place. Paige Chickadaunce recorded a time of 28:14 which was good enough to finish in 149th. Gwen Garman's time of 28:54 was 154th while Clara Westscott's time of 30:07 was 160th. Emma Lynch posted a time of 30:36 and Katelynn Braun covered the course in 31:06.

SMWC returns to action on Friday, October 4 when they compete in the NCAA Division II Pre-Nationals at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.