Baldwin City, KS - A new year with some new faces, and some rust to knock off for all the Comets at their first race of the year, the Rust Buster at Baker University. The race was slightly shorter than the usual length for a cross country race, as the competitors completed a 4000 meters race, with many teams using the competition as a good tune up for the rest of their campaigns. The new championship length for Women's Cross Country is 6000 meters this year. 

The Comets boast a young roster this year, but one that has multiple competitors looking to make the leap to the next level. Sophomore Madalenn Fee was the top finisher for the Comets, finishing in 8th place and a time of 15:45.32. Fee, who was a National Qualifier during the Outdoor Track and Field Season last spring, looks to lead the way for the Comets this season. Senior Captain Kiana Garcia was the next Comet to cross the finish line, capping a Top 20 finish in 19th place. Sophomore Hannah Hayduk was just behind Garcia, coming in 22nd. Mikaela Fabey made her return to the Cross Country fold after injuries limited her a season ago, grabbing a 35th place finish. The Comets have one Freshman on the squad, Avery Morris, with Morris navigating the field and finishing 38th.  Kate Soukup and Taylor Rechenmacher bring some experience back for the Comets this season, as they came in 41st and 42nd respectively. Kyndal Soukup finished 51st, and Katie Wright finished 54th for the Comets. The Comets finished 5th in the team standings. 

Next up on the slate for Cross Country is the home Cottey Invitational on Friday, September 8th. The Cottey Invitational will host teams from across the Midwest for races at the Middle School, High School, and Collegiate levels. The Comets look to take the starting line at approximately 6:30pm. The event will be held at the Frank E. Peters Golf Course, located in Nevada, MO. The course is also the site for the 2023 American Midwest Conference Cross Country Championships, which Cottey will host.