OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami University cross country team got their 2018 season underway Saturday with the Miami Opener. The meet saw the 'Hawks compete with visiting runners from Indiana and Indiana State at the Miami University Cross Country Course.

The day's first heat was the women's 6K race as the starting gun marked the official opening of the 2018 season. Redshirt senior Alesha Vovk persevered through the hot afternoon conditions to lead the way for Miami; her 21:56.2 was good for sixth overall. Maegan Murphy and Emma Mashburn finished in eighth and ninth respectively, and the RedHawks' scoring was rounded out by juniors Alexa VanderHoff and Claire Linn. Murphy, VanderHoff, and Linn each set a personal record with their time, while the race marked Mashburn's first at Miami. 

The women finished the race with 32 points, behind Indiana's 23 and in front of a 67 mark from Indiana State.

The men's 8K got underway just after the conclusion of the women's race. Redshirt senior Matt Bromley, returning to cross country action after missing last year's fall season, crossed the line as Miami's top scorer. Max Lehnhardt, Ryan Pitner, Zac Thompson, and Ryan Sharkey comprised the rest of Miami's five scoring runners.

Several RedHawks put on impressive performances while running unattached. On the women's side, junior Carly Davis finished just behind Vovk in seventh. Junior Sean Torpy turned in perhaps the most impressive performance of the day, running away with the men's race to take first place by nearly a full 10 seconds. Fellow juniors Christopher Torpy and Bradley Davis, also running unattached, finished in the top ten as well.

The Red and White will continue their fall slate in two weekends when Miami takes to the Bronx, N.Y. for the Iona Meet of Champions on Sept. 14. Some RedHawks will also compete at Cedarville that same weekend.