Full Results (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Koeppen Post Meet

CARMEL, Ind. - The IUPUI men's cross country team put up a hard fought season-opening win at the Butler Opener on a near perfect Friday night (Sept. 2), edging the hosts by five points. Led by senior Robert Murphy's individual win, the Jaguars recorded 25 points total, compared to Butler's 30. Marian rounded out the three-team scoring with 83 points. 

IUPUI, ranked No. 7 in the Great Lakes Region, were hard pressed to claim the meet title for the second time in as many seasons. Murphy led the way, using a late kick to stave off Butler's Bobby Johnson to cross the finish line at 18:22.3. 

Building off a masterful track season, Murphy opened 2016-17 with his first collegiate cross country win. 

Senior Damon Pruett lagged back in the race's early going, but calmly moved up to a third-place finish at 18:34.4. Fifth-year senior Dakota Dubbs ran a rock solid 18:37.0 to place fifth and junior Abiel Mogos crossed at 18:38.7 in sixth. 

Jeremy Breedlove clinched the meet by placing tenth overall at 19:06.6 and Kyle Lewis was just behind him at 19:07.9. 

"First of all, we kind of started with a strategy of just going out easy," IUPUI Head Coach Chuck Koeppen said. "It turned out to be quite a dual meet. I think Robert was expecting a pretty easy race so I think he kind of stayed in the race and finally that last mile or so, he kind of pulled it out.

"Damon had a great race and also Abiel moved up really well towards the end of the race. All in all, the guys ran well."

Koeppen had his full freshman class run unattached on Friday night with plans to redshirt all 12 newcomers this season. 

The Jaguars will run next at the Indiana Intercollegiates on Sept. 16 in Bloomington, Ind.. IUPUI is the reigning Indiana Intercollegiates champs, having outlasted both Indiana and Indiana State in Terre Haute a season ago. 

Team Standings
1. IUPUI - 25
2. Butler - 30
3. Marian - 83

Individual Results
1. Robert Murphy - 18:22.3
3. Damon Pruett - 18:34.4
5. Dakota Dubbs - 18:37.0
6. Abiel Mogos - 18:38.7
10. Jeremy Breedlove - 19:06.6
11. Kyle Lewis - 19:07.9
16. Joel Thompson - 19:35.1
19. David Behrmann - 19:44.6
30. Connor Sorrells - 20:23.9