COLUMBIA, Mo. – Saint Louis opened its 2019 cross country season on Friday at the Missouri XC Opener at LA Nickell Golf Course in Columbia, Mo.

Also participating in the meet on the women's side was Missouri and Missouri State. Mizzou placed first with 16 points, while the Billikens placed second with 60 points, ahead of Missouri State's 64 points. The men's team ran a dual against Missouri, with SLU finishing with 44 points behind Mizzou's 18.

Senior Megan Kress led the women's team with a sixth-place finish, completing the 4K run in 14:02.49. Senior Hannah Pierson placed 11th (14:18.66), while freshman Riley Demo placed third among the Billikens with a 21st-place time of 15:08.92.

On the men's side, senior Aaron Dugan led the Bills and finished third overall with a 6K-time of 19:03.68. Sophomore Stephen Kielhofner turned in a time of 19:20.71 to place eighth. Senior Jon Schaefer posted a top-10 time of 19:21.69 to finish third among the Bills.

The Billikens are back in action on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Woody Greeno Invite at the University of Nebraska.