Running on the firm grass of Kansas on a sunny day is a treat for Iestyn Williams, who grew up racing in quite different conditions in Wales.
"Our cross country is up to the knees in mud," he said. "You're fudging around at six-minute miling. Today, we were running sub-5 and it felt so good. I felt like I was flowing."
Williams led the Shockers to a strong debut on their new Clapp Cross Country Course at Clapp Park on Saturday. He won the men's 6-kilometer race with a time of 18 minutes, 16.55 seconds and the Shockers won the team title with 16 points.