St. Paul, Minn. - The Saint Mary's cross country teams kicked off their conference season this evening at the Hamline Invitational, hosted by Hamline University. The meet served as a preview of the upcoming conference competition.

The men were the first off the line, their race beginning at 6:00 p.m. 

Up against the high competition, the men had an impressive finish, with Isaiah Fitzgerald being the first to cross for the team, finishing his 8 kilometer race in 22nd place with a time of 28:01. Grant Schneider followed close behind his teammate, clinching 38th place with a time of 28:41. 

Competing in his first collegiate 8K, Sam Grywacz turned in a strong performance with a 72nd-place finish and a time of 30:03. Freshmen Levi Jacobs (84th, 30:51) and Liam Smith (104th, 33:25) also completed their first 8Ks, helping to round out the men's scoring and secure a 7th-place team finish.

The women kicked off their 6 kilometer race after the men at 6:45pm. 

Per usual, Mya Slavin made her mark on the competition, placing 9th with another new personal best 6K time of 23:07. Kendra Schneider, in her first 6K of her final year also boasted an impressive finish, just barely missing her PR with a time of 24:57. 

Katherine Goergen was next across the line for the women, with a massive PR of 27:03 that earned her 74th. Megan Frosch crossed the line in 91st with a time of 28:13. 

Rounding out the scoring for the women was freshman Addison Burckhardt, who finished her debut 6K race with a time of 29:17 and a 96th place finish. The women's team finished 8th overall in the competition.

The Cardinals will return to this course for the conference meet on November 1st. 

Their next competition will be at the Eau Claire Blugold Invitational in Colfax, Wisconsin on Friday, October 3rd.