DUBUQUE, Iowa — The 2025 season got underway for the Knox College men's and women's cross country teams on Friday evening at the Bob Schultz Invite, hosted by Loras College, with the women placing fourth out of six teams and the men sixth out of nine.

Junior Lance Miller was one of the few who was able to take a top-15 individual finish away from a runner associated with the host school, earning a spot on the podium in third overall in the men's 5K race with a time of 15:27.1. Of the first 15 to cross the tape, eight were from Loras and two more were Loras alumni.

The top finisher for the women was first-year Elsie Conwell, competing in her first collegiate race. The rookie finished the 5K course in 20:30.1 to place 20th overall. 

• The next Prairie Fire man and woman to complete the course were sophomore Misha Ratner (16:44.1, 27th) and junior Cecilia Goodin (21:19.6, 31st).
• The biggest improvements from last year's race were by senior Eileen Sheetz (shaved nearly a minute off her time) and sophomore Mary Stockdale (49 seconds).
• Loras won the men's race easily, scoring 20 points, well ahead of Augustana with 81.
• But it was the Cornell College women who edged out the hosts by three points, 31-34.
• The gold medals went to Loras in both races — Isaac Bourne (14:56.8) and Keelee Leitzen (18:54.0).

Knox will take a week off from competition before returning to the trails on Saturday, Sept. 13 for the Les Duke Invitational hosted by Grinnell.