BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The No. 7 ranked Wisconsin men's cross country team started off its season with a fifth-place finish in the IU Open on Saturday morning.

Junior Tyson Miehe led the Wisconsin men's cross country team with a 32nd-place finish in the 8K race at the IU Championship Cross Country Course with a time of 26 minutes, 26.7 seconds. Right behind him in 33rd was freshman Tannor Wagner, who launched his UW running career with a time of 26:26.8.

"Today's meet was all about preparing for the future," UW Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne said. "We'll be back here at the end of October for the Big Ten Championships and as in the past, when you prepare well, you put yourself in a good position to be successful when it matters most."

Behind Miehe and Wagner were Troy Smith, Zack Benning and Ryan Clevenger, who placed 34th, 35th and 36th, respectively.

Saturday's season opener, one of the earliest openers in recent memory, came on the heel of the Badgers' annual preseason training camp in Door County.

"Both teams had a very productive week of training in Door County," Byrne said. "The camp gave our runners the chance to train away from Madison and grow closer together as a team."

The Badgers continue their season on Friday at the Illinois State University Country Financial Invitational in Bloomington, Illinois. The women will compete in a 5K at 5 p.m. (CT) with the men to race an 8K at 5:45 p.m.