Southeast Missouri State University student publication

Cross country looks to ride hot streak to Louisville Classic

Monday, September 24, 2018
Carlin Knott (#462), Sydney O'Brien (#465) and Kaitlyn Shea (#466) leading the pack during the Saluki Invite on Aug. 31.
Photo by Tom Weber

The Southeast cross country teams finished first or runner-up in their first two meets. The Southeast women, led 1-2 finishes by seniors Sydney O’Brien and Kaitlyn Shea, won the Saluki Invite and the John Flamer Invitational.

Head coach Ryan Lane credits this start is due in part to the success from runners like seniors Sydney O’Brien and Kaitlyn Shea, who have been two of the top performers for Southeast. O’Brien has taken first place in both meets so far, with Shea just seconds behind.

“When you talk about Sydney, you have to talk about Kaitlyn in the same sentence,” head coach Ryan Lane said. “While Sydney has won those races, Kaitlyn’s been literally with her until the last couple of meters. On a different day, Kaitlyn just as easily could have won those races.”

Senior Sydney O'Brien pulls ahead to win the Saluki Invite on Aug. 31.
Photo by Tom Weber

In the Saluki Invitational, O’Brien posted a winning time of 18 minutes, 36.62 seconds in the 5K race, with Shea coming in at 18:38.19. Five schools participated. During the John Flamer Invitational at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, O’Brien took first in 18:05.4, with Shea, again, coming in second in 18:18.7. Southeast was the only other school to attend.

Through the first two meets of the season, the Southeast cross country teams have been at or near the front of the pack. With the duo of O’Brien and Shea finishing 1-2, the Southeast women won both the Saluki invitational in Carbondale, Illinois, and the John Flamer Invitational. The Southeast men finished second in both events.

“It’s really nice to have two girls there that are so strong together, because they work together and practice every day,” Lane said. “Kaitlyn’s got a little more foot speed and Sydney’s got a little bit more endurance. They push each other on their separate weaknesses and strengths.”

The success for the women’s side has not been limited to just their top two. During the John Flamer Invitational, the Redhawks took five of the top six spots. The Southeast women took eight of the top 20 spots during the Saluki Invite on Aug. 31.

“Our number four right now, Rachel Hutchcraft, has made a huge jump,” Lane said. “Rachel didn’t even make the conference team as a freshman, and here as a senior, she is the fourth runner on a team that’s probably the best SEMO’s ever had in the history of the university on the girls side.”

Senior James Kosbar finishing the last stretch of the race at the Saluki Invitational on Aug. 31.
Photo by Tom Weber

He said he was especially impressed with the nose-to-the-ground attitude that she has had her whole career.

“She leads by example,” Lane said. “She says, ‘This is how you get good. I know it, because I did it. And if you want to be good, you do what I did.’”

The men have been led by seniors Dan Plunkett and James Kosbar. The duo have posted the top two times for SEMO in both meets. Plunkett ran 16:14.00 to place sixth at the Saluki Invitational, while Kosbar placed 11th in 16:31.95 on the 5K run. At Edwardsville, Plunkett took third on the 8K course in 26:57.6, while Kosbar finished fifth in 27:09.3.

Lane said the two have been vocal leaders on the team and have been willing to step up and tell the underclassmen what needs to be done to be successful.

“They’re trying to build a culture,” Lane said. “They are leading this team in the sense that they will sit down and say ‘This isn’t always easy.’ Every day is another day. It’s an opportunity to get better, and they’re trying to build a new culture from what we’ve had in the past. Just the way they approach how they want to conduct themselves inside and outside of cross country has been a big boost.”

The Redhawks will compete at the Greater Louisville Classic on Sept. 29 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Comments