SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – The Shippensburg University men's cross country team trained well in its first meet of the season on Friday night, abiding by the pack mentality for a steady showing at the 2017 Galen Piper Alumni Open/Cross Country challenge held under the lights of the SU recreation fields on campus.
 
Shippensburg ran conservatively for the start of the 6K race before accelerating over the final couple of 1K course loops. Conditions were solid for running, with temperatures in the low 60s during the evening. It was, as event namesake Piper described, "one of the premiere, early-season, evening, collegiate cross country races held in the Burd Run basin."
 
The Raiders were paced by senior Harrison Schettler and junior Sean Weidner. Schettler, back with the squad after a one-year absence, placed sixth in 19:41. Weidner, a Lock Haven transfer and All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) performer in both cross country and the outdoor 10K, was one place behind in 19:42.
 
Junior Dominic Stroh was a third Top 10 finisher for the Raiders, placing ninth in 19:54. Connor Holm, in his first cross country season for SU after debuting in track, placed 12th in 20:01. Senior Alex Balla rounded out the SU scorers with an 18th-place finish in 20:10.
 
Prominent Shippensburg alumnus Matt Gillette was especially fleet of foot on Friday night, winning the race and breaking the course record by five seconds with a time of 18:40. The SU Alumni squad tied the Raiders for second place, with each scoring 49 points. The Alumni featured scoring runs from Chris Mullin (3rd), Wade Miller (10th), Ethan Rissell (14th) and Alec Brand (24th).
 
Dickinson's squad won the race by scoring 33 points – placing each of its five runners among the Top 13 individual finishers. Elizabethtown (107 points) and Gettysburg (144 points) rounded out the Top 5 team finishers.
 
Shippensburg returns to action in two weeks at Kutztown's Division II/III Challenge.
 
Shippensburg (T-2nd, 49 points)
6. Harrison Schettler 19:41
7. Sean Weidner 19:42
9. Dominic Stroh 19:54
12. Connor Holm 20:01
18. Alex Balla 20:10
20. Rob Moser 20:14
28. Michael Urban 20:28
29. Blake Behney 20:32
52. Dalton Leab 21:06