NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The sixth-ranked St. Olaf College men's cross country team started its season with a second-place finish at the Ole 5K Opener on Friday evening at the St. Olaf Cross Country Course.

In a meet the team traditionally treats as a workout rather than a scored race, St. Olaf had 12 of the top-18 individual finishers while compiling a team score of 36 points in the five-team field. Macalester College had each of its five scorers place in the top eight to take first with 25 points.

Senior Kevin Turlington, an All-American last year, was the runner-up in 16:00.8, trailing Macalester's John Ihrke by a little over a second. First year Connor Hitchcock was fourth (16:06.2), while seniors Jack Deaver (16:20.9) and Parker Max (16:24.5) were also in the top 10 in ninth and 10th, respectively.

Junior Alex Bjork rounded out the Oles' scorers in 11th (16:26.0) as part of a string of 10 consecutive St. Olaf runners to cross the finish line.

St. Olaf will host its annual Alumni 5K Meet on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m.