SHELBYVILLE, Ind. - Redshirt freshman Luke Shappell and super senior Matt Mitsch led the way as the IU Indianapolis men's cross country team ran to a runner-up finish at the Jaguars Invitational at Blue River Course in Shelbyville on Friday (Sept. 20). The meet was moved up to the morning to dodge the day's extreme heat, but was still blistering hot and bone dry at the opening gun. Shappell, running his first collegiate 8K in uniform, ran a time of 25:49.90 to place fourth overall and Mitsch was just behind him at 26:04.79. 

"It was a really great experience," Shappell said. "It's only my second 8K ever, so it was a good experience to get that race in and get it out of the way. I need to be a little bit more patient when it comes to going out hot in a race. I've just got to pace off those who are more experienced and just let them do the work and I can cruise through it because I know I'm fit. I just got to get that racing mentality down."

The Jaguars finished second overall with 62 points while Dayton won the meet with 39 points. Horizon League competitor Northern Kentucky was third with 67 points, paced by Natnael Weldemichael winning time of 25:09.58. 

Shappell and fellow redshirt freshman Noah Price jumped on the lead pack from the opening gun with Mitsch just off the pace early. Weldemichael made his move just beyond the 5K and separated, cruising to an 11-second victory. However, Shappell and Mitsch were able to dial up strong finishes, placing fourth and fifth respectively to lead the squad. Price finished eighth at 26:25.58 and Ethan Walsh finished 19th at 27:06.02. Andrew Blake rounded out the team's scoring five at 27:34.19 as head coach Justin Roeder had just eight Jaguars in uniform as veterans Nate Kaiser and Grant Moon sat out the event. 

The entire freshman class ran unattached as head coach Justin Roeder continues to evaluate who will be elevated to the varsity group for the second half of the season. 

"It was a lot of fun," Roeder said. "It was warm. They competed well. They positioned themselves early and we found each other - they ran as a pack and I love seeing that. I like where we're at. I like the fitness levels and I'm excited to see where we go in six to eight weeks. 

"Before this race, we were trying to figure out who we were. We have a better idea of where we're at. We still know now where we need to go."

The only three others to compete in uniform were Mitchell Gits (27:35.12), Jay Pillai (27:54.10) and Nicholas Probst (28:39.68) on Friday. Meanwhile, true freshmen Riley Nixon and Joey LaPatra paced the unattached entries, each finishing among the top 15. 

The Jaguars will next compete at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational on Friday, Oct. 4 in South Bend.