ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Webster University men's cross country team opened the 2025 campaign by hosting the Webster Opener this evening at Buder Park North. At this meet, there were five conference teams (Blackburn, Lyon, Principia, Spalding, and Westminster) that competed in the 6k race. As a team, the Gorloks had two top-10 finishers and placed third overall with an average time of 22:52 which earned a score of 58. 

Out of the field of 63 competitors, junior First Team All-Conference returner Ethan Nieroda led the way for the Gorloks as he placed seventh overall with a time of 21:54.2. With that time, he was the third fastest SLIAC competitor that crossed the finish line. 

The next Gorlok that crossed the finish line was first-year Simon Muthemba as he had a fantastic collegiate debut and placed ninth overall with a time of 21:55.1. At this race, he was the fifth fastest SLIAC competitor that crossed the finish line.

Fellow first-year Brayden Halter had a solid collegiate debut as he placed 16th overall with a time of 22:46.9. One spot down on the individual results from Halter was junior Johnny Imboden as he placed 17th overall with a time of 23:11.6. 

In addition to Muthemba and Halter, his classmate Gabe Feaman made his collegiate debut and earned a time of 24:34.7. The next Gorlok that crossed the finish line was Jacob Hawkins as he posted a time of 25:38.2.

First-years Tyler Mooney and Dalton Bartlett also made their collegiate debuts and rounded out the field for Webster with times of 25:43.4 and 29:28.2 respectively.

The Gorloks will compete in their next race of the season on Saturday, September 5 at the Panther Prowl XC Classic in Owensboro, Kentucky.