Recap By Mason Nesbitt, TMU Sports Information Director

This season started in similar fashion to the one before it: with Wesley Methum out in front as far as Mustangs are concerned.

The Master’s University men’s cross country team returned to the Mark Covert Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton and showed the kind of promise that will keep people talking about a run at a ninth straight conference crown in a couple months.

But Saturday was all about getting the year off to a good, fast start.

“The season looks very promising in light of today’s results,” said coach Zach Schroeder.

Methum finished 11th among non-NCAA-Division-1 runners, posting a time of 25 minutes, 47.5 seconds.

“Solid season opener,” Schroeder said of Methum, who was the first Mustangs to finish at Fullerton’s meet a year ago when he posted one of the best freshman debuts in program history.

Stephen Pacheco, fresh off winning a conference title in track, came in 19th place, while Tim Gutierrez came in 38th and Joshua Nunez came in 43rd. Schroeder was particularly impressed with the debut of freshman Davis Boggess. Boggess ran a time of 27:20.4, good for 59th place.

The Mustangs finished sixth as a team.

“We look very strong one through five,” Schroeder said of his runners. “We just need two guys to step up into spots six and seven.”

Master’s next races on Sept. 15 at the UC Riverside Invitational before returning home for The Master’s University XC Invitational on Sept. 29 at Central Park in Santa Clarita, Calif.