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Men's Cross Country Friday, August 29, 2014 WIU Athletic Communications

Holt and Lefler Lead Leathernecks at Early Bird Invite

Madison Lefler took first place in the women's race at the Early Bird Invite

MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2014 on Friday (Aug. 29) at WIU's Spring Lake course. Sophomore Madison Lefler and senior Mark Holt led the Leatherneck squads with Lefler winning the women's 4K race with a time of 15:46 while Holt placed 11th in the 6K, running 19:46.

"The honeymoon is over," said first year cross country coach Russell Peterson. "We are starting from the beginning this year; defining what it really means to be a Leatherneck. I think toughness and a blue collar attitude is part of that and I think we showed that today. I am happy."

In the women's race the Leathernecks faced off against the Bradley Braves and finished with 43 points. Lydia Smith finished in 15th place (16:36) with Alyssa Johnson, Jaclyn Finney and Kelsey Capovilla rounding out the top 18.

On the men's side the Purple and Gold went up against Bradley as well as Augustana (Rock Island). Senior Ryan Wojdyla finished closely behind Holt in 14th place (20:01) while freshmen Angel Carrera and Grant Kaiser rounded out Western's top four in 23rd and 24th place. Kevin Kamm and Kendall Keller rounded out the men's top 40 with Tariq Ahmad, Darius Thomas, and Bryant King all finishing for the Leathernecks as well.

The men and women are next scheduled to be in action on Friday, September 12 at the Bradley Intercollegiate in Peoria, Ill.

Complete results for the WIU Early Bird invite can be found HERE. Video highlights and an interview with coach Peterson can be found below.

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Players Mentioned

Ryan Wojdyla: DISTANCE; Senior

Kendall Keller: DISTANCE; Sophomore

Tariq Ahmad: DISTANCE; Senior

Mark Holt: DISTANCE; Senior

Kelsey Capovilla: DISTANCE; Junior; Harlem Senior

Jaclyn Finney: DISTANCE; Sophomore; Washington Community

Alyssa Johnson: DISTANCE; Junior; Washington Community

Madison Lefler: DISTANCE; Sophomore; Canton

Lydia Smith: DISTANCE; Senior; Canton

Kendall Keller: DISTANCE; Junior; Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor

Bryant King: DISTANCE; Sophomore; Homewood-Flossmoor

Players Mentioned

Ryan Wojdyla
: Senior
: DISTANCE

Kendall Keller
: Sophomore
: DISTANCE

Tariq Ahmad
: Senior
: DISTANCE

Mark Holt
: Senior
: DISTANCE

Kelsey Capovilla
: Junior; Harlem Senior
: DISTANCE

Jaclyn Finney
: Sophomore; Washington Community
: DISTANCE

Alyssa Johnson
: Junior; Washington Community
: DISTANCE

Madison Lefler
: Sophomore; Canton
: DISTANCE

Lydia Smith
: Senior; Canton
: DISTANCE

Kendall Keller
: Junior; Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor
: DISTANCE

Bryant King
: Sophomore; Homewood-Flossmoor
: DISTANCE