Hoosier runners perform well at Indiana Open

Despite low numbers and a conservative approach to the meet, the IU men’s and women’s cross country team looked very solid Saturday morning at the Indiana Open.

“It was good,” IU coach Ron Helmer said. “You never know because in a relaxed racing environment you don’t know who’s going to ratchet things up.”

The women raced more starters than the men, with Chelsea Blanchard being the first to cross the line with a time of 18:46.57. Freshmen also fared well at the meet as Lyndsey Wall and Samantha Ginther posted solid times.

The men sat their usual five starters including stars De’Sean Turner and Cole Hardacre, but the rest of the team filled in well.

“The guys are scary,” Helmer said. “The potential of these guys is high. We have some big time athletes and they perform very well.”

Redshirt freshman Zach Mayhew finished first with a time of 25:31.96 to lead the Hoosiers with Andy Weatherford coming in a close second at 25:34.05.