The Creighton Cross Country team took home fourth place in both the men’s and women’s division at the Woody Greeno Invitational Saturday. The event, held in Lincoln, Neb., consisted of more than 25 schools and over 500 total competitors.

The Jays were led in the men’s division by junior Chris Culhane, who finished 27th in a field of 295 runners. He also ran the third fastest time ever on that course by a Bluejay runner.

“[Saturday] was good,” Culhane said. “I thought we definitely improved from our first race, and we had a few guys out there that we didn’t have in the first race. Most everyone improved their time, and it was a step in the right direction.”

Joining Culhane in his strong showing were juniors Casey Jergenson and Evan Daugherty and freshman Danny Diaz. Daugherty improved his time by more than a minute from the first race, while this was Jergenson’s and Diaz’s first race of the season.

On the women’s side, freshman Slaine Kelly finished 16th overall in a field of 211 participants. The Jays were also led by two more freshmen in Hannah Krumreich, who placed 25th overall, and Meagan Wilderson, who placed 63rd.

Both Kelly and Krumreich broke the previous Creighton freshman record on that course. They also ran the fourth and fifth fastest times in team history at the meet.

It’s not all good news for the Jays, though. They still have a few top runners who are not competing in the races due to illness or injury.

“We have yet to see the full potential of both squads because of some freak injuries and illnesses that I feel we will have overcome by MVC Championship time,” said coach Chas Davis.

“Some things are simply out of our control, which is a great lesson both in running and in life. So we are learning how to accept these challenges and how to improve the things we do have control over.”

What the Bluejays do have control over is how hard they will practice. Davis is already focusing on how to improve his runners for their next meet.

“We will be working on our aggressiveness, mental focus and overall confidence over the next couple weeks in order to prepare for the Willamette Invite,” Davis said. “We have to be more willing to get out faster, take some risks and make it hurt.”

While this type of preparation would make some runners cringe, Culhane and the rest of the cross country team are taking it in stride.

“If you look at where we were last year at this time, there was a huge dropout from the commitment and intensity it takes to compete at this level,” Culhane said.

“There’s been a lot of change in the coaching staff. It’s a lot of tougher than it was in the past, but it’s only making us better as a team and individuals.”

The Jays look to continue their vast improvements in the upcoming Charles Bowles Invitational, which takes place in Salem, Ore., on Oct. 2.