HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – MSU Denver's cross country teams turned in outstanding performances Saturday at the Alabama-Huntsville Invitational, with the women placing fifth and the men tying for 12^th in 33-team races.
 
Led by Erin Norton in 27^th and Anna Swanson in 28^th, the Roadrunners' women finished behind only national No. 5 Lee (Tenn.), No. 15 Southern Indiana, No. 19 Dallas Baptist and Pittsburg State (Kan.).
 
Yonatan Kefle placed 30^th to lead the men, who were racing against five nationally-ranked teams and finished ahead of Dallas Baptist, a team ranked ahead of the Roadrunners in the South Central Region.
 
"We were hoping to have the men in the top 15 and women in the top five and we accomplished that task," MSU Denver coach Janis Christopher said.
 
Norton ran 5,000 meters in 18 minutes, 10.11 seconds, while Swanson finished in 18:10.23. Alliyah Molina was 34^th, Vanessa Kort 40^th and Audrynn Street 80^th.
 
Kefle ran 8K in 24:41.36. Noel Lopez followed in 53^rd, with Nick Nowlen placing 102^nd, Oticio Herrera 105^th and JJ Ramey 125^th.
 
"It was a good learning experience for many of them because of the size of the race and the fact that we are at sea level, something we had not seen in a couple of years," Christopher said. "Just like every race we are using it as an opportunity to get better and will move forward into championship season using these lessons to propel us into the spots we are aiming for."
 
MSU Denver next races at the RMAC Championships on Oct. 23.