Bryson City, N.C. –The Western Carolina cross country squads opened the 2025 season with strong individual performances on both sides of the trail. Still, the UNC Asheville Bulldogs took the team wins at the Duel in the Valley. The Catamount men’s team saw two top-five finishers in the 6k in Chase Thurber (2nd – 18:57) and freshman Matthias Peterson (5th – 19:12.9), but fell 23-32 to the Bulldogs. The women’s team was led by third-place finisher Jessica Connole in the 3k, but lost 19-38 to the Big South foe.
