PROVO, Utah – Andrea Nelson Harrison finished first overall and led BYU women’s cross country to a second place team finish at the 2014 BYU Autumn Classic at the Clarence F. Robison Track and Field Complex.

“I feel really good about everything,” said Harrison, the senior from Spokane, Washington. “I went in to the race wanting to win it, so I had that mindset from the start and I felt strong the whole race.”

Harrison started out fast taking control of the race early and never relinquished her lead as she completed the 5k race with a time of 17:55.6.

As a team the Cougars led two-thirds of the race with its top four runners staying together ahead of all other runners. However, in the final third of the race, No. 25 ranked Minnesota finished strong overcoming a few runners to finish first with 29 team points. The Cougars finished with 35 points.

“We wanted to win, but we didn’t and that never feels good,” women’s head coach Patrick Shane said. “Minnesota is a very good team. Its race strategy was perfect and they deserved to win.”

Shane was pleased with several of his runners including Makenna Smith and Carrie Jube. Smith was BYU’s second athlete to cross the finish line and placed third overall with a time of 18:10.2.

“It was a good beginning race to get the bugs out,” Smith said. “I have some work to do, but I was happy with what I did today. Our team will also get better than it was today.”

Jube crossed as the third Cougar runner and finished eighth overall with a time of 18:16.3

“I haven’t been feeling my best this week so under the circumstances I feel like I did as well as I was hoping to,” Jube said. “I definitely had some nerves. I haven’t raced cross country in a year so getting back in to the rhythm of it is an adjustment.”

Jennica Redd finished fourth for BYU and 11th overall while Mckenzie Weir rounded out the scoring for the Cougars as the fifth finisher for the team placing 15th overall.

“We need to work on our depth,” Shane said. “It needs to be strengthened but there are ways we can do that.”

Even though it wasn’t the result the team was hoping for, there was a feeling of optimism for the season among coaches and athletes.

“I think we have the potential to be a lot better,” Harrison said. “I’m excited to see us grow with each race.”

BYU will next race in two weeks at the Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota on Sept. 27^th.

Complete results can be found at this link.

PROVO­, Utah – Optimism abounds within the BYU women’s cross country program as it looks to build off a strong offseason and show well at the BYU Autumn Classic this Saturday.

“Andrea Harrison has been on fire and has stepped up from a year ago,” women’s head coach Patrick Shane said. “Carrie Jube, Jennica Redd and Makenna Smith have also become great runners.”

Last week BYU opened its season placing fourth at the Utah Open meet in Murray Park. That meet featured some of the program’s youngest athletes including five freshmen. The Autumn Classic will showcase 12 of BYU’s top athletes in uniform. Shane has high expectations for his top returning runners including junior Jennica Redd.

“I’m just excited and hoping to improve from last year,” Redd said. “As a team we want to run well and stay with all the top runners.”

The Cougars are motivated to perform well in what will be the season opener for most runners and BYU’s only home meet of the year.

“You need to approach it like it is just another race but it’s definitely special because friends and family will be there,” Redd said.

The other teams set to compete include UCLA, Minnesota, Weber State and Idaho State. Minnesota entered the season ranked No. 25 in the USTFCCCA preseason poll and will likely be the biggest challenge to the Cougars.

“We will not hold back this weekend.” Shane said. “We have some great competition so we’re excited.”

Runners making their season debut will be Harrison, Jube, Redd, Smith, Kelsey Brown, Erika Reddish-Nash and Kristi Rush.

"Our team’s been running well this week,” Redd said. “If we all run together I believe we can win.”

The women’s 5k race begins at 10:15 am at the Clarence F. Robison Track and Field complex.