LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The IU Indianapolis women's cross country team will be back in action on Saturday (Oct. 3) when they Jaguars participate in the Women's 5K Gold Race of the Louisville Cross Country Classic. The Jaguars are slated to compete at 9:45 a.m. at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park. 

Head coach Antonio McDaniel's team is off to an impressive start to the season, having collected runner-up finishes at both the Mike Baumer Cross Country Invite and Rumble in the Fort to start the season. Rookie Maren Wilson has paced the team in both meets to start the year, clocking 18:30.1 in her initial 5K of the season and 22:15.3 in her first collegiate 6K. She was later named #HLXC Women's Freshman of the Week on both occasions. 

It's been a full youth movement for McDaniel's team as the opener saw Wilson, Elora Bliss and Aftin Griffin take the top three spots in the lineup, followed by Riley Flynn, who missed the bulk of last season due to injury. Senior Grace Bragg rounded out the scoring five in the season opener as the Jaguars trailed only Ohio State in the second-place finish. 

In Fort Wayne, freshman Hannah Suvar made her collegiate debut and complemented Wilson well, placing fifth overall in a time of 22:29.1 in her collegiate debut. Griffin ran a time of 23:01.8 and Bragg was next in line at 23:14.2. Sophomore Kaylynn Bedel was in the scoring group by placing 17th and Flynn was just behind her in 19th place. 

The Jaguars' lineup will also be bolstered by the return of Indiana-transfer Ellia Hayes. Hayes started the Rumble in the Fort and was among the Jaguars' lead pack before shutting down her race early for preventative measures. 

QUOTABLE
"We frolicked in the puddles the whole time," Suvar said of the muddy conditions at the Fort Wayne event on Sept. 19. 

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will compete in the ISU Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., on Friday, Oct. 16.