Entering the Big Sky cross country championships, Sacramento State had one goal: Improving on last year’s last place finishes.

Both the men and the women went out and executed that plan for improvement, albeit under adverse running conditions.

“It was pouring rain, under 50 degrees and up in 5,000 feet altitude,” head coach Rodney Rothoff said. “Conditions dictated the race, runners were slipping everywhere.”

The men finished one place better than last year, beating out Portland State to take seventh in the eight-team race. Breaking through to lead the men for the first time this season was freshman Colin Szehner coming in 28th.

“Colin really stepped up and put his neck out on the line,” Rothoff said. “Colin ran like a champion.”

Szehner said he had not raced in pouring rain before, but did not let the weather conditions or the high elevation dictate his race plan.

“During the race I was focused on passing people up, I didn’t want to finish in last,” Szehner said. “I tried not to focus on the elevation because if I did it would break my mental barrier.”

The women finished in eighth place after being plagued by injuries and sickness to key runners.

Freshman Kristina Holtz shined through for the women coming in 34th as the team had to overcome injuries and sickness to key runners.

“Everyone tried to fight through it as a team,” Holtz said. “I think we did pretty well, we were in the race the whole time.”