CLINTON, Miss. -   The Mississippi University for Women cross country program drew back the curtain on its 2021 teams at The Opener hosted by Mississippi College. Both genders ran 5-kilometer races, with the Owl women and men finishing eighth and ninth, respectively, on the Choctaw Trails.
 
Host Mississippi College won both divisions.
 
"Today the heat got the best of us," The W Head Coach Dedrick Burnett said. "Overall, I'm very proud of everyone who competed today. This was a good

opener for us to use to start our season. Now, we build off of this race and prepare for the next one."
 
It marked the first cross country competition for The W since November 2019. The 2020 season was wiped out due to COVID-19.
 
In the women's race, MUW's Kaitlyn McRee (Shubuta, MS/Wayne Academy) and Kalee Sanders (Saltillo, MS/Saltillo HS) were the team's top finishers, crossing the line back-to-back in 65th and 66th places. McRee had a clocking of 31:12.2 minutes and Sanders at 32:21.4.
 
The balance of the Owls' finishers were: Vonisha Towns (Batesville, MS/South Panola HS) at 43:59.3, Aziyah McGhee (Batesville, MS/South Panola HS) at 42:58.6 and Michaiah Adams (Tupelo, MS/Tupelo HS) at 42:58.9 minutes.
 
Joshua Gonsalves led The W men with a 66th place finish. Gonsalves had a time of 20:34.0, an average of 6:37.2 minutes per mile.
 
Carson Holly was 71st at 21:00.8 minutes. Brandon Brown (25:33.9) and Tavonta Macon (26:03.8) were back-to-back in 81st and 82nd.
 
Kemarie Wade and Jerald Shelvy were 86th and 87th, respectively, to round out The W's finishers.
 
Both teams will be in action next Friday, September 10, at the University of North Alabama Invitational.