MARION, Ind. - The 2024 season for Grace's cross country team officially commenced on Friday.

The Lancers represented well at the IWU Twilight Invitational, competing against a number of NAIA ranked opponents.

The women's team nabbed the runner-up spot out of 22 teams, and the men finished fifth out of 22 teams.

Grace's women shone; they beat four of the five ranked opponents in the field, including No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 13 Huntington.

Grace had three runners place in the top-25 of the crowded field. Esther Cameron (22:57.8) and Kylie Sauder (22:58.0) finished nearly stride-for-stride for seventh and eighth place respectively.

Cece Mitchell ran a 23:51.4 to nab 25th, and Morgan Welch was not far behind (24:03.5) in 29th.

Addison Grady (24:18.4), Grace Gross (24:46.8), Madelyn Skidmore (24:47.8) and Tame Baylis (24:53.1) each finished sub-25.

"Our women ran controlled and confident. We didn't want ot overstretch ourselves in the first race, so our plan was to control the early part of the race," said Grace cross country coach Brian Dewey. "They followed the plan and ended up overtaking the No. 9 and 13-ranked teams in the NAIA. Honestly i think we were all surprised to take second in the meet beause of how we decided to race tonight."

On the men's side, a total of eight teams appeared in the NAIA preseason poll. Grace managed to knock off three of those teams, including No. 20 Shawnee State and No. 23 Marian.

Brandon Kleber paved the way for the Lancers, finishing just outside the top-10 with his time of 25:23.7 (11th place).

Cole Johnston was within range of Kleber (25:35.9) in 17th place, and Luis Loera finished in 35th (26:02.3).

Grace's top-seven was rounded out by Brady Hunsberger (26:28.9), Luke Nier (26:43.7), Austin Wilson (26:56.3) and Hayden Mullett (26:58.9).

"The men had the same plan as the women. We ran in waves but struggled to keep together as we got around the halfway mark," Dewey said. "Still they showed good progression and are taking the race as good information going forward. A fifth-place finish was higher than expected after beating two ranked teams. The men should continue to get stronger as the season goes on as our training is just getting ready to ramp up."

The Lancers will race next Friday at the Warrior Challenge in Michigan.

COMPLETE RACE RESULTS

WOMEN'S RESULTS - 1:58:09

7. Cameron (22:57.8)

8. Sauder (22:58.0)

25. Mitchell (23:51.4)

29. Welch (24:03.5)

39. Grady (24:18.4)

54. Gross (24:46.8)

56. Skidmore (24:47.8)

58. Baylis (24:53.1)

72. Kolb (25:13.4)

88. Geller (25:52.3)

107. Spahr (25:56.4)

121. Manning (26:14.2)

133. Bohls (26:45.1)

152. Long (27:28.5)

157. Albrecht (27:46.1)

171. Pycraft (28:23.3)

178. Samms (28:37.0)

MEN'S RESULTS - 2:10.14

11. Kleber (25:23.7)

17. Johnston (25:35.9)

35. Loera (26:02.3)

55. Hunsberger (26:28.9)

71. Nier (26:43.7)

82. Wilson (26:56.3)

87. Mullett (26:58.9)

97. Van Prooyen (27:09.0)

122. McCarty (27:34.7)

142. Young (27:52.8)

148. Clear (27:58.5)

149. Harrold (27:59.6)

173. Klein (28:24.4)

176. Hoffert (28:27.8)

179. Quinones (28:30.7)

195. Dillman (28:52.6)

217. Nichols (29:22.1)

225. Wealing (29:31.4)

233. McPhatter (29:49.0)

245. Fisher (30:29.0)