LAKE CHARLES—John Klein and Payten Vidourek led the Northwestern State cross country teams in the McNeese Season Opener.

The Demons and Lady Demons both placed last in the loaded five-team field.

Klein, a freshman from Callisburg, Texas, paced the Demons, finishing 23^rd in a 41-runner field with a time of 19:34.6, in the 6-kilometer race, which is 3.73 miles.

Vidourek finished right behind him at 24^th with a time - 19:34.9, just three tenths behind his teammate.

"I feel like we had a much better start than last year," NSU assistant cross country coach Dillon Dawson said. "We have a few things we can improve upon, but overall, I am excited about our start."

Newcomer Korbin Shumate placed 32^nd with a score of 19:53.6.

Xavier Wilson (20:06.8) and Waylon Wright (21:50.0) rounded out the scores for the men, placing 36^th and 40^th, respectively.

Leah Thompson led the way for the Lady Demons in 29^th place in the 36-runner field, clocking at a 11:40.7 time in the 3-kilometer race, which is 1.86 miles.

Freshman Ava-Grace Hebert finished right behind Thompson in 30^th place with a time of 11:54.5.

Senior Olivia Sipes (12:35.9) placed 33^rd, while sophomore Abria Paul (12:49.8) placed 35^th.

Running in her first race at NSU, freshman Lakyn Carmouche (13:28.2) placed 36^th.