The Central Cross Country teams hosted Loras Saturday afternoon for an American Rivers Conference dual meet.

On the men’s side, Caleb Silver sliced 47 seconds off his season-opening time from a year ago as the Central College men’s cross country team opened its revised schedule at home Saturday. Silver was the only Central runner to crack the top five, placing fifth in 19:51.1 in a 6,000-meter race on the Central College Cross Country Course. As a team, the Dutch fell to Loras 16-47. The remainder of the season’s meets will be 8,000 meters.

On the women’s side, five of Central’s top seven finishers were freshmen in a 24-35 setback to Loras. Mari Stein improved by nearly a full minute over her 5,000-meter time in last year’s opener on the Central College Cross Country Course, finishing second in 19:52.0.The next four Dutch finishers were freshmen. In her collegiate debut, Caroline McMartin of Pella was third with a time of 20:06.3.

The Dutch get two weeks of training before their next league triangular Saturday, Sept. 26, competing with Buena Vista University and Luther College at Storm Lake. Start time is 2 p.m.