NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Northwestern State started its cross country season Friday evening with good performances in the SFA Lumberjack Opener hosted by Stephen F. Austin, leaving the NSU coaches upbeat about the unscored competition.

The meet was scheduled as a tandem competition but the format was altered, with runners going in 2,000 meer splits.

"I'm satisfied with how we ran overall," said veteran Demons' coach Leon Johnson. "We were more competitive against the SFA runners than we've been before, and they are a conference championship contender. Mark Dotson, Jason Enright and Dusty Dischler all ran very well for us. This was a good start for us."

Both NSU teams didn't alter their training for the meet and will continue that path for a while. But new Lady Demons' coach Heather McDaniel said her runners' efforts were encouraging.

"We got a good run for all the ladies and a positive step in the right direction," said McDaniel.  "This was more of a workout than a race but, good to see and compete against other teams to give us an idea of where we are at in our training." 

NSU runs again next Saturday at Louisiana Tech in the first scored competition of the season.

Full NSU results:

Men 2k X 3

Dusty Dischler - 6:48/7:00/6:59

Kyle Lessig  - 6:57/7:28/ 7:24

Mark Dotson - 6:38/6:33/6:32

Chris Lanier - 6:48/6:54/6:50

Jason Enright - 6:44/6:50/6:42

Ricky Trent - 7:33/6:55

Travis Plumb - 6:45/ 7:13/6:51

Robert Carrier - 6:49/ 7:25/ 6:57

Women 2k X 2- 

Karensa Ellis - 7:40/ 7:54

Rebecca Meehan - 8:34/9:08

Lawana Perkins - 7:44/ 7:50

Courtney Hershberger - 9:11/9:39

Ali Fontenot -  7:59/8:20

Shana Lee  - 9:08/9:31

Sarah Emory - 8:15/8:27

Kirstie Jones - 8:50/9:10

Andrea Warren - 8:27/8:37