NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Trine University cross country teams started their conference season with the men’s squad finishing sixth and the women seventh at the MIAA Jamboree hosted by Saint Mary’s College.

Calvin won both the men’s and women’s team titles.

On the men’s side, the Thunder finished just eight points back of fifth place Alma. Senior Matt Burgess (Valparaiso, Ind./Valparaiso) led Trine with a 20th place finish, completing the course in a time of 26:54. Junior Michael Hammond (Columbia City, Ind./Bellmont) was just three placed back, finishing in a time of 27:02. Just behind in 29th place was senior Corbin Buckler (Marion, Ind./Eastbrook) who finishing the race with a time of 27:28. Finishing in a time of 27:42 to place 31st was sophomore Sam Gray (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Dwenger). Rounding out the team scoring for the Thunder was freshman Cody Mart (Channahon, Ill./Minooka Community) who finished the race in a time of 28:42 to place 42nd.

For the women, freshman Gabbie Bates (Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia) led the Thunder with a 22nd place finish, with a time of 23:39. Bates was third overall among all freshmen women in the meet. In 27th place was senior Annalisa Krug (Battle Creek, Mich./Pennfield) who finished her afternoon in a time of 24:26. Freshman Ariel McCoy (Garrett, Ind./Garrett) completed the course in a time of 24:46 to finish in 34th place. With times of 25:55 and 26:08, sophomore Kelly Scholer (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) and senior Sannie Anderson (Hesperia, Mich./Hesperia) rounded out the team scoring for the Thunder finishing in 48th and 49th places respectively.

Trine will next compete on September 29 at the 40th Annual Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Cross Country Invitational hosted by Loyola University in Chicago beginning at 11:45 a.m.