MATTHEW VANTRYON | STAFF REPORTER

A disappointing finish at the Notre Dame Invitational Friday left the Butler men’s cross country team feeling as though it still has something to prove.

The Bulldogs placed 17th out of 27 teams at the event.

“We’re better than that, and we know it,” coach Matt Roe said.

Sophomore Erik Peterson led the way for the Bulldogs, finishing the 8-kilometer race in 18th place with a time of 24:49.

Junior James Martin finished second on the team with a time of 25:32.

Martin said this meet was a learning experience for the Bulldogs.

“Despite the team not finishing as highly as we would have liked, we were able to pinpoint some weaknesses that we can improve upon,” Martin said.

The men’s next meet is the NCAA Pre-National on Oct. 19.

“We need everybody to step up and do what they’re capable of—nothing more, nothing less,” Roe said. “Our expectation is not that our guys are going to do something beyond themselves, but they’re going to race at a level that reflects their fitness.”

Roe rested the women’s first squad. The second squad placed 22nd at Notre Dame.

Junior Erica Carlson led the Bulldogs across the finish line with a time of 19:07, good for an 81st-place finish.

Freshman Taylor Royalty finished second for Butler  with a time of 19:25.

The first squad will return to action in two weeks at the pre-national meet. Roe said the meet will be a success if the team performs as they did in the Roy Griak Invitational.

“We have one race under our belts, and we’re going to be better just because of that,” Roe said.