Shippensburg University cross-country made a statement Saturday, placing fourth and fifth in the annual Paul Short Invitational.

Both the men and women competed in the Brown division of the race against top universities and programs across the country.

The men took fourth place out of 45 schools, with six runners placing in the top 100. Over 400 runners competed in the Brown division, led by Kieran Sutton who placed 14th overall.

Sutton impressed on his season debut, placing higher than any other Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) runner with a time of 24:58. Alex Balla also placed in the top 25 with a time of 25:11.

The men’s team has been dealing with injuries recently, but Dominic Stroh was able to return to action to place 46 overall. “It was good to get Kieran Sutton and Dominic Stroh back in the lineup,” Coach Steve Spence said. “They both opened the season in good form and have a lot to build on with some sharpening.”

The team is using its experience in the Paul Short Invitational to prepare for the PSAC Championships. “With the strength of both genders, we have the luxury of really focusing on preparing for a peak at the NCAA meets," Spence told SU Sports Information.

The women’s team also put on an impressive performance, sliding in at fifth place.

Casey Norton finished ninth place overall, leading a talented squad. Her finish of 21:13 led all PSAC runners and earned her PSAC Women’s Cross-Country Athlete of the Week. It was her second top 10 finish at the Paul Short Invitational.

Five runners finished in the top 100, with seven out of nine runners recording new personal bests in the 6K.

Caity Reese placed 26th overall, beating her previous record at Paul Short by nearly a minute. She beat her time from last year’s regional championships by four seconds with a time of 21:48.

Spence feels his team is in a good place thus far this season. “The Paul Short meet served as a good barometer as to where we are as we prepare for the PSAC, NCAA Regional and NCAA National meets,” Spence said. “I feel that we are in a good place mentally and physically.

SU has the talent and the mentality to take the PSAC Championships this season, but Spence knows his teams are not where they need to be just yet.

“I feel that we will be competitive on the national level, but the results from the Paul Short [meet] show that we still have a lot of work to do between now and Nov. 19.”

Cross-country is back to business this weekend at Slippery Rock University for the Mack Cooper Invitational. Coach Spence and the team will look to scout the course before the NCAA Atlantic Regionals, which is also held at Slippery Rock later in the season.

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