SPEARFISH, S.D. – After missing a season due to injury, Chris Jessop returned to the University of Mary men's cross country team's lineup in style. In the first meet of the season, the senior finished just 1.5 seconds out of the runner up slot at the Yellow Jacket Invitational.
 
Jessop ran the 6,000 meter trail at the Spring Canyon Golf Course in a time of 19:54.75 to lead the Marauders efforts and place third overall. The Corvallis, Mont., native missed last year after becoming the first U-Mary men's runner to qualify for the NCAA national cross country championships in 2013.
 
In a dual with host Black Hills State University, the Marauders posted 37 team points to 21 for the Yellow Jackets. BHSU had six runners in the top ten, including victor Alec Baldwin, to four for U-Mary.
 
"We took second to Black Hills State but we ran respectably," said Marauders head coach Dennis Newell. "We had some positives and executed well in some areas. Overall, though, we need to do a better job in a lot of areas."
 
Kevin Carpenter and Thomas Neale both placed in the top seven of the meet. A sophomore, Carpenter covered the course in 20:03.55 while Neale, a senior, was seventh in 20:17.50.   
 
Steven Gordon, the Marauders lone junior, placed tenth in a time of 20:29.27.
 
Rounding out the scoring for U-Mary was Tyler Erickson. The sophomore was 15^th overall with a clocking of 20:56.05.
 
Two freshmen ran their first collegiate race for the Marauders. Teegan Olson was timed in 21:24.81 and took 20^th while Chris Stock checked in at 26^th in 22:27.01
 
The Marauders next compete at the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26.
 
#marauders#