Junior cracks top 10 in Indiana Open

In the face of rising temperatures, rolling hills and coarse, wet grass, fatigue wasn't the only thing the IU men's cross country team had to combat. In addition to the challenging course and humid weather, the Hoosiers took to the trail against Butler, Huntington University, Minnesota and Purdue.\nSaturday's Indiana Open was the first 8K race many of the team's members had ever run. The sole exception was junior Brennon Plotner, who earned ninth place for the Hoosiers.\nIU assistant coach Stephen Haas explained the need for the team to practice and condition more in preparation for future events.\n"Brennon (Plotner) is the only guy who's run an 8K before. So the other four guys were just getting experience and seeing it out," Haas said. "We got three really hard weeks of training and then we go to George Mason (University), so we need at least two of these guys to be running well by the time we get there."\nWith a career-best time of 26:32.00, Plotner explained where the course became hardest for him.\n"The sixth and seventh (kilometers) were really tough," he said. "The 5K before them were pretty easy, but the sixth and seventh made it a lot more challenging."\nHaving tested his skills in three or four previous 8K races, Plotner said he was able to use the downhill parts of the course to his advantage to put him into good position.\nFinishing behind him were freshmen Darryl Stevenson (26:51.00) in 12th place, Tom Martin (27:14.00) in 17th place, and Tyler McCreary (27:39.00) in 23rd place and sophomore Paul Coover (28:02.00). Unattached runner Justin Roeder from Butler won the race, finishing at 26:01.00.\nWith solid performances from all five Hoosiers, Haas reflected on a solid week of conditioning.\n"They're tired out there because last week was a hard week, so to come out here today they're going to be hurting," he said. "They're not going to feel good, but it's a good experience to get out there, not feel good and know you can still go 8K."\nThe cream and crimson is set to race again Friday at the Indiana Intercollegiates in Terre Haute.