Senior Janet Jesang could only smile after learning she set a course record in Saturday’s Old Timers’ Classic at Kereiakes Park.

“This is unbelievable to me,” Jesang said. “I really felt pain, but I just kept pushing and pushing.”

Jesang won the 3-mile race in 17:07.31, the fastest time recorded on the course since its redesign in 2007. The closest competitor was more than 30 seconds behind her.

“In the first mile, I was expecting more people to move faster,” she said. “But after that, I saw no one was going, so I thought, let me try to push it.”

Jesang, who won the race last year in 17:24.80, led this year’s competition from beginning to end with little challenge from runners from the University of Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State University.

“I am very happy with our first outing,” assistant coach Michelle Scott said. “I think the team and Janet just did awesome. Janet is probably in better shape than she was last year.”

Although the meet was not scored, the Lady Tops had three runners finish in the top five.

Junior Marion Kandie placed third with a time of 18:05 and senior Eimear O’Brien finished fifth with a time of 18:14.

The Lady Tops won the Sun Belt Conference championship last year and added a strong class of freshmen, plus sophomore transfer Michelle Finn, in the offseason.

“I love the team atmosphere,” senior Ana Carinena said. “We are just excited to start racing and see what we can do.”

The cross country teams have a tough road ahead. Next up is the Greater Louisville Classic in Louisville on Oct. 3, leading up to the Indiana State University Pre-Nationals Invitational on Oct. 17.

“We are expecting a lot of improvements before the Sun Belt Conference,” Jesang said. “We have big things ahead of us.”

In men’s action, senior Patrick Cheptoek won the 5-mile race in 24:30.10, making him one of only 25 men to ever run the course in under 25 minutes.

“Because of the tough competition, I had to make up my mind that I was the best,” he said. “When I am running, I always have to think I am number one and just run to that position.”

Other finishes included Cosmas Bor, 12th in 26:26, Patrick Jenkins, 18th in 27:13, and Mark Bowers, 27th in 28:25.

Scott said this weekend’s results proved the team is ready to duplicate last season’s success.

“When they get out and race, you can really see who they are,” Scott said.