The Cavaliers posted a score of just 18 points on the men’s side while the CU women finished with 58 points in a second-place result with the host Pioneers claiming the team championship with a meet-low 24 points. Concordia edged the Linfield women’s team by a single point for second place while the Wildcats men’s team was the runner-up squad with 45 points.

Ben Foubert led a 1-2-3-4 finish for the Cavaliers with a 25:50 and was followed by Marcus Nelson (25:58), Cory Pena (25:58) and Andrew Landstrom (26:01). Three Linfield competitors finished consecutive before CU’s fifth racer, Brandon Schmuckly ended his eight-kilometer tour in 26:40.

For the Cavalier women, newcomer Gina Paletta took command from the gun to claim the individual title in a meet-record flirting 21:51. Paletta crossed the line more than 16 seconds faster than the next competitor and just eight seconds from the meet record in 2006.     

Lauren Moran finished as CU’s No. 2 runner with a 23:04, good for fifth place overall while freshmen Sarah Whybark and Natalie Ball crossed in 23:40 and 24:15 for 12th place and 18th place, respectively.

Kristina Cupp came in as the team’s final scorer in 23rd place, 26th overall, at a 24:47. Also competing for the Cavs were Ellen Dexter (50th, 26:24) and Andrea Avales (57th, 29:29).

The Cavalier teams, both ranked inside the top 10 according to the NAIA Coaches’ Preseason Poll, will next toe the line next Saturday when they travel to Ashland, Ore., for the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championship Preview hosted by Southern Oregon University.