Hoosiers test the trails at Community Run

While both athletes and fanatics alike prepared for the IU Community 5K Run on Friday, it was nothing more than another day of conditioning for the IU men's cross country team.\n"This first meet was an icebreaker to get the season rolling," junior Brennon Plotner said. "Everyone's incredibly fit from running this summer, and we took the race as a chance to get a feel for what the rest of the season could be like."\nThough the 5K run was not an "all-out typical race," as he referred to it, Plotner took 10th place overall and crossed the line first for the Hoosiers. Clocked at 16:45.00, he tied Leo Manzano from the University of Texas. The University of Louisville was the third collegiate team invited to participate in the race, with community enthusiasts also taking part. In total, 75 men and women tested their endurance against Bloomington's hills and dirt paths.\nSophomore Tim McLeod explained how early meets typically resemble team practice runs.\n"Races like Friday's are more of a workout than anything else," McLeod said. "We're feeling everything out, but basically there is no strategy involved. The difference between those who ran the 5K and who didn't was basically who felt fresher going in."\nThe Hoosiers stayed within the top third of the pack, with the last runner finishing 25th. After Plotner came freshman Tom Martin in 13th (16:49.00), McLeod in 15th (16:53.00), freshman Darryl Stevenson in 17th (16:56.00) and sophomore Tyler McCreary(18:56.00) rounding out the group of IU runners in the 25th spot. \nLouisville's Soimo Kiplagat nabbed first in 16:01.00, with Manzano at the top for Texas.\nSophomore Mark Fruin explained that although it did not want to run with as much force as it would in bigger tournaments, the team was pleased overall with how everyone took to the course.\n"Preparation for this kind of sport is all mental; your mindset determines how you finish," Plotner said. "Especially where there's hills and you've got to push yourself through it, just keep going." \nThe Hoosiers will jump back into action this weekend when they host the Indiana Open at 10 a.m. Saturday at the IU cross country course.