TULSA, Okla. — Despite holding back several veteran athletes from both squads, the Pittsburg State University men's and women's cross country teams enjoyed solid season debuts at the Distance After Dark Thursday (Sept. 3).

The Pitt State men logged a second-place team finish among 14 competing squads, while the Pitt State women finished sixth overall.

Freshmen Brody Deniston, Zach Anderson and Reyes Martinez finished among the top 11 individuals in the men's four-mile race. Deniston crossed the finish line in second place in 20 minutes, 16.6 seconds, while Anderson placed seventh in 20:28.8 and Martinez finished 11^th in 20:41.9.

The Gorillas posted a team score of 78 points to finish second behind Oklahoma Baptist University's low score of 45 points.

In the women's five-kilometer race, freshman Brooke Hedger paced the Gorillas with a 22^nd-place time of 18:53.6. Freshman Ava Mierau crossed the line 27^th in 19:07.9 and freshman Lilith Johnson finished 31^st (19:15.3).