FIRST SIGNS of life for the NCAA harrier season broke out as September gave way to October. The Nuttycombe Invitational (men’s report | women’s report), at what will serve as the Nationals site come November, was hardly the only fixture of note. Squads in many instances raced without every last A-teamer suited up yet laid down some markers.
adidas Challenge — NC State Building Back
Cary, North Carolina, September 21 — Coach Laurie Henes’s Wolfpack has a legacy of 3 straight NCAA team crowns to live up to and kick-started the process with a 34–51 triumph over runner-up Clemson.
Tiger Judy Kosgei (19th at the ’23 Nationals) led home two Clemson newcomers, Silvia Jelego and Gladys Chepngetich. But NC Staters Grace Hartman, Hannah Gapes and Fiona Smith showed in 4th–6th, the front end of depth that secured the team victory.
NC State men Brett Gardner, an Olympic Trials steeple qualifier last spring, and Toby Gualter ran up front in the men’s race as their side of the Pack fell to Liberty 46–51. JoJo Jourdon — the NXN prep champion last year now at Wake Forest — ran unattached in 3rd.
Men’s Teams: 1. Liberty 46; 2. NC State 51; 3. Wake Forest 73.
Individuals (6K): 1. Brett Gardner (NCSt) 17:37.2; 2. Toby Gualter (NCSt) 17:39.4; 3. JoJo Jourdon (unat) 17:42.1; 4. Sawyer Dagan (Clem) 17:44.7; 5. Noah Valyo (unat) 17:52.1; 6. Nicholas Kiprotich’ (Lib-Ken) 17:57.7; 7. ***Edwin Kiprop’ (Lib-Ken) 17:59.7; 8. **Tristian Merchant (Lib) 18:00.6; 9. Wesley Bond (GM) 18:01.1; 10. **Jackson Keefer (WF) 18:02.4.
Women’s Teams: 1. NC State 34; 2. Clemson 51; 3. Liberty 67.
Individuals (5K): 1. **Judy Kosgei’ (Clem-Ken) 16:11.1; 2. ***Silvia Jelego’ (Clem-Ken) 16:17.6; 3. **Gladys Chepngetich’ (Clem-Ken) 16:24.2; 4. *Grace Hartman (NCSt) 16:25.9; 5. *Hannah Gapes (NCSt) 16:26.5; 6. Fiona Smith (NCSt) 16:53.8; 7. ***Allie Zealand (Lib) 16:59.4; 8. ***Kate Putman (NCSt) 17:04.3; 9. Adelyn Fairley (Lib) 17:04.6; 10. *Kayla Werner (Lynchb) 17:07.6; 11. ***Angelina Napoleon (NCSt) 17:10.8.
Gans Creek Classic — Stanford Wins Two
Columbia, Missouri, September 27 — Stanford squads led the day. Ricardo Santos’s Cardinal men scored 31 to the Tennessee’s 163 with J.J. Clark’s women 44–92 winners over their Vol opponents. Edward Bird of Kentucky was men’s winner with Leo Young and Cole Sprout close behind in a Stanford showing that also had Lex Young 5th.
Auburn frosh Brenda Jepchirchir, a 19-year-old with international experience — including a 1:09:45 half-marathon — won from Stanford senior Zofia Dudek and Sophia Kennedy, daughter of 2-time NCAA Cross champ Bob Kennedy.
Juliette Whittaker, 7th in the Paris Olympics 800, started in the B race and placed a creditable 12th in 21:36.7.
Men’s Teams: 1. Stanford 31; 2. Tennessee 163; 3. Auburn 167; 4. Missouri 180; 5. Kentucky 185.
Individuals (8K): 1. **Edward Bird (Ky) 23:07.6; 2. **Leo Young (Stan) 23:08.9; 3. Cole Sprout (Stan) 23:10.0; 4. Ryan Kinnane (Aub) 23:10.3; 5. **Lex Young (Stan) 23:11.2; 6. *Toby Gillen’ (Ms-Aus) 23:13.7; 7. Luke Marsanskis (Me) 23:17.9; 8. *Thomas Boyden (Stan) 23:20.2; 9. *Mathis Chavand (IlSt) 23:20.9; 10. ***Allan Kiplagat’ (MTn-Ken) 23:24.0.
Women’s Teams: 1. Stanford 44; 2. Tennessee 92; 3. Mississippi 120; 4. Florida 132; 5. Georgia Tech 164.
Individuals (6K): 1. ***Brenda Jepchirchir’ (Aub-Ken) 19:50.1; 2. Zofia Dudek’ (Stan-Pol) 19:53.6; 3. **Sophia Kennedy (Stan) 19:55.6; 4. Loral Winn (Ms) 19:56.8; 5. *Ashley Jones (Tn) 20:00.6; 6. *Bethan Morley (Fl) 20:08.3; 7. **Julia Flynn (Stan) 20:12.1; 8. ***Ruth Kimeli’ (Bay-Ken) 20:12.3; 9. Rachel Sutliff (Tn) 20:14.9; 10. *Riley Stewart (Stan) 20:15.3.
Cowboy Stampede — Oke State Men Roll
Stillwater, Oklahoma, September 28 — Host Oklahoma State’s men’s squad, the defending NCAA champions, grouped up and covered ground rapidly at the front to win with 19 points from New Mexico (45), Oregon (89) and Texas (116). All four teams feature in the latest USTFCCCA’s coaches poll.
Soph Brian Musau’s 22:55.6 time on the 8K version of the Greiner Family XC Course broke former Cowboy Isai Rodriguez’s course record from ’21 by nearly 10 seconds as he put 8 seconds on Lobo Habtom Samuel (23:03.6).
“I thought the men were unbelievable,” said Oke State coach Dave Smith. “Our next real competition is the Big 12 meet in 5 weeks, so we’ll take some time to recover from this effort and build up to the post-season.”
The New Mexico women turned back the host school’s squad 34–40 as frosh Pamela Kosgei won by 43.5 seconds. Kenyan Kosgei, the ’23 African U20 steeple champ, raced 9:28.88 for that distance in June.
Men’s Teams: 1. Oklahoma State 19; 2. New Mexico 45; 3. Oregon 89; 4. Texas 116; 5. Incarnate Word 151.
Individuals (8K): 1. **Brian Musau’ (OkSt-Ken) 22:55.6; 2. **Habtom Samuel’ (NM-Eri) 23:03.6; 3. ***Laban Kipkemboi’ (OkSt-Ken) 23:19.0; 4. **Denis Kipngetich’ (OkSt-Ken) 23:21.0; 5. Victor Shitsama’ (OkSt-Ken) 23:22.0; 6. Ryan Schoppe (OkSt) 23:37.7; 7. Isaac Alonzo (Tx) 23:45.5; 8. **Abraham Chelangam’ (OR-Uga) 23:52.8; 9. ***Vincent Chirchir’ (NM-Ken) 23:54.3; 10. Adisu Guadia’ (Isr) 23:57.4.
Women’s Teams: 1. New Mexico 34; 2. Oklahoma State 40; 3. Lamar 76; 4. St. Mary 158; 5. Incarnate Word 180.
Individuals (6K): 1. ***Pamela Kosgei’ (NM-Ken) 19:50.0; 2. *Nia Clatworthy (Lam) 20:33.5; 3. ***Victoria Lagat’ (OkSt-Ken) 20:37.2; 4. Natalie Bitetti (NM) 20:48.3; 5. ***Elizabeth Ilanda (Odessa) 20:50.3; 6. Klara Dess (NM) 20:56.8; 7. Sivan Auerbach’ (OkSt-Isr) 21:01.4; 8. ***Mercy Kirarei’ (NM-Ken) 21:03.3; 9. Rilyn Stevens (unat) 21:03.8; 10. **Josphine Mwaura’ (OkSt-Ken) 21:09.6.
Chile Pepper — Short-Staffed Hogs Cruise
Fayetteville, Arkansas, September 28 — Razorback men’s coach Chris Bucknam held out several of his swift Hogs, including ’23 NCAA Cross 7th-placer Patrick Kiprop, yet the host team prevailed with a 42-point tally from Div. II Western Colorado (127).
Kirami Yego, winner on his home course last year, repeated, loping away from his pursuers around 6K. The ’23 NCAA 13th-placer had a 22-seconds-plus margin at the finish.
Razorback women Mia Cochran and Paityn Noe notched a same-time 1-2 in their race but Texas senior Olivia Howell was 3rd some 28 seconds in arrears and led a Longhorn team win from LSU and the hosts.
Men’s Teams: 1. Arkansas 29; 2. Western Colorado 127; 3. East Central 159.
Individuals (8K): 1. Kirami Yego’ (Ar-Ken) 22:57.0; 2. ***Elkana Kipruto’ (SFA-Ken) 23:19.2; 3. **Timothy Chesondin’ (Ar-Ken) 23:23.6; 4. ***Josphat Meli’ (Hard-Ken) 23:33.4; 5. Sam Wilhelm (AlH) 23:44.4; 6. **Brian Masai’ (Ar-Ken) 23:59.4; 7. ***Emmanuel Otim’ (ButCC-Uga) 24:00.9; 8. Maxamillian Wheeler (OkB) 24:04.9; 9. Elias Schreml’ (Ar-Ger) 24:05.4; 10. *Reuben Reina (Ar) 24:05.8.
Women’s Teams: 1. Texas 42; 2. LSU 75; 3. Arkansas 88.
Individuals (5K): 1. *Mia Cochran (Ar) 15:56.3; 2. **Paityn Noe (Ar) 15:56.3; 3. Olivia Howell (Tx) 16:25.1; 4. Leah Taylor (WnCo) 16:28.0; 5. Eva Jess (Tx) 16:29.5; 6. *Elizabeth Pickett (Tx) 16:30.2; 7. Lorena Rangel Batres’ (LSU-Mex) 16:36.7; 8. *Michaela Rose (LSU) 16:41.4; 9. ***Valentine Jemutai’ (SFA-Ken) 16:42.1; 10. Helen Braybrook (CoStP) 16:44.7.
Piane Invitational — Notre Dame & NAU
Notre Dame, Indiana, October 04 — Coach Mike Smith’s Northern Arizona women came in rated equal-No. 1 (with NC State) in the USTFCCCA coaches poll and showed why with a 52-point win ahead of No. 5-rated BYU (65).
BYU’s Trials steeple finalist Lexy Halladay-Lowry came from 14th at the mile to 2nd at 3K to a 6-second win from Juliet Cherubet of Texas Tech at the end. Jenna Hutchins, 6th-place finisher for the Wildcats’ in the NCAA 10,000 last spring, came in 4th, yet NAU’s 7-9-11-12-13th punch led by Karrie Baloga powered the team result.
The 4th-rated NAU men, runner-up squad at the ’23 NCAA, led team scoring at 3K and 6K, though the tally versus host Notre Dame at the latter checkpoint was a narrow 60–65. Fighting Irish pack running (8-10-11-12-14th) fronted by soph Ethan Coleman held sway at the end in a 55–68 result.
David Mullarkey, a Brit transfer from Florida State, headed up the Lumberjacks in 4th behind four Kenyan frosh. Texas Tech’s Ernest Cheruiyot, 4th in June’s NCAA 10,000, got the win in his second collegiate harrier race.
Men’s Teams: 1. Notre Dame 55; 2. Northern Arizona 68; 3. Cal Baptist 112; 4. Wyoming 150; 5. Michigan State 167.
Individuals (8K): 1. ***Ernest Cheruiyot’ (TxT-Ken) 22:20.3; 2. ***Evans Kurui’ (WaSt-Ken) 22:24.7; 3. ***Patrick Kiprop’ (Cinc-Ken) 22:27.0; 4. David Mullarkey’ (NnAz-GB) 22:36.9; 5. **Valentin Soca’ (CalB-Uru) 22:45.2; 6. ***Zouhair Redouane’ (CalB-Mor) 22:45.8; 7. *Romain Legendre’ (Adams-Fra) 22:48.6; 8. **Ethan Coleman (NDm) 22:49.0; 9. *Jacob White (Wy) 22:49.3; 10. **Daelen Ackley (NDm) 22:51.7; 11. **Izaiah Steury (NDm) 22:52.1; 12. ***Drew Griffith (NDm) 22:53.9; 13. **Justin Keyes (NnAz) 22:54.9; 14. Carter Solomon (NDm) 22:56.2; 15. *Kang Nyoak’ (NnAz-Aus) 22:56.3.
Women’s Teams: 1. Northern Arizona 52; 2. BYU 65; 3. Notre Dame 70; 4. Liberty 189; 5. Boise State 204; 6. Texas Tech 236.
Individuals (5K): 1. Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) 15:57.5; 2. **Juliet Cherubet’ (TxT-Ken) 16:03.5; 3. ***Leah Jeruto’ (Ok-Ken) 16:06.7; 4. **Jenna Hutchins (BYU) 16:14.1; 5. Siona Chisholm’ (NDm-Can) 16:15.0; 6. **Kaiya Robertson (Boise) 16:15.1; 7. **Karrie Baloga (NnAz) 16:16.2; 8. Emily Covert (NDm) 16:22.5; 9. Maggi Congdon (NnAz) 16:23.6; 10. *Carmen Alder’ (BYU-Ecu) 16:24.0; 11. *Nikita Moore’ (NnAz-Aus) 16:26.6; 12. *Alex Carlson (NnAz) 16:31.1; 13. ***Ava Mitchell (NnAz) 16:31.3; 14. Erin Strzelecki (NDm) 16:32.2; 15. **Anastasia Chepkorir’ (TxT-Ken) 16:32.8.
Lakefront Invite — 3 Alabama Victories
Chicago, Illinois, October 04 — The crimson jerseys of Coach Dan Waters’ Tide were prominent at the head of both races. Doris Lemngole, favored in our individual season preview, took the women’s comp by more than 16 seconds and frosh Dismus Lokira led a Bama 1-2-3.
That’s a formidable group, considering Kipruto is a 27:45 track 10,000 man, but Wisconsin got past Bama 69–73 led by senior Bob Liking in 7th.
In women’s team scoring Alabama’s 57-point tally was too much for favored NC State. Grace Hartman led the Wolfpack crew that scored 71 with a 4th-place outing.
Men’s Teams: 1. Wisconsin 69; 2. Alabama 73; 3. Butler 126; 4. Cal Poly 165; 5. Loyola 165.
Individuals (8K): 1. ***Dismus Lokira’ (Al-Ken) 22:41.9; 2. Victor Kiprop’ (Al-Ken) 22:43.9; 3. ***Dennis Kipruto’ (Al-Ken) 22:46.4; 4. *Ian Kibiwot’ (Louisv-Ken) 22:50.3; 5. ***Bernard Cheruiyot’ (Tul-Ken) 22:55.7; 6. Davis Bove (SLO) 22:56.5; 7. Bob Liking (Wi) 22:59.1; 8. Skylar Stidam (In) 23:03.3; 9. ***Dominic Serem’ (Tol-Ken) 23:07.4; 10. **William Zegarski (But) 23:08.3; 11. Brett Gardner (NCSt) 23:18.0; 12. Jack Jennings (Tul) 23:25.3; 13. Toby Gualter (NCSt) 23:26.1; 14. **Johnny Livingstone (Wi) 23:29.4; 15. ***Liam Newhart (Wi) 23:29.9.
Women’s Teams: 1. Alabama 57; 2. NC State 71; 3. Minnesota 116; 4. Louisville 121; 5. Toledo 131.
Individuals (6K): 1. **Doris Lemngole’ (Al-Ken) 18:48.2; 2. ***Caroline Jeptanui’ (Tul-Ken) 19:04.9; 3. **Brenda Tuwei’ (Al-Ken) 19:16.1; 4. *Grace Hartman (NCSt) 19:17.0; 5. ***Pheline Cheruto’ (Al-Ken) 19:32.9; 6. *Hannah Gapes (NCSt) 19:33.6; 7. ***Mercy Kinyanjui’ (Tol-Ken) 19:43.1; 8. ***Blezzin Kimutai’ (Tul-Ken) 19:44.9; 9. *Ali Weimer (Mn) 19:46.8; 10. ***Nancy Chepleting’ (Louisv-Ken) 19:55.0; 11. Layla Roebke (Louisv) 19:56.0; 12. Eva Jess (Tx) 20:00.0; 13. Rylee Penn (Louisv) 20:04.5; 14. Fiona Smith (NCSt) 20:06.0; 15. Emma Atkinson (Mn) 20:07.4.
Short Invite — A Div. II Upsetter & Harvard
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, October 05 — Ranked No. 12 in the coaches poll coming into the Paul Short Invitational, the Harvard men outran all other Div. I competition but fell to upstart Wingate. The Div. II school in North Carolina impressed with 30 points to the Crimson’s 95.
Utah State senior Camren Todd, whose team placed 3rd, finished 0.3 ahead of Wingate’s Moroccan senior Hamza Chahid. Lukas Ehrle, a German frosh, sailed in 3rd.
Connecticut senior Chloe Thomas, dominant winner at the Penn State’s Spiked Shoe meet 3 weeks earlier, broke away from the women’s field after 2 miles to win by over 32 seconds. However, depth in the Harvard squad — scorers in adjusted places 19, 25, 26, 31 and 33 for a 134-point total — kept UConn from the title by 14 points.
Men’s Teams: 1. Wingate 30; 2. Harvard 95; 3. Utah State 109; 4. Navy 179; 5. Cornell 184.
Individuals (8K): 1. Camren Todd (UtSt) 23:18.8; 2. Hamza Chahid’ (Wingate-Mor) 23:19.1; 3. ***Lukas Ehrle’ (Wingate-Ger) 23:28.7; 4. Dylan Throop (Penn) 23:31.7; 5. Murphy Smith (Navy) 23:33.2; 6. **Antonin Saint Peyre’ (Wingate-Fra) 23:36.6; 7. Derek Amicon (Corn) 23:38.0; 8. Ricardo Barbosa’ (Wingate-Por) 23:42.2; 9. Spencer Nelson (UtSt) 23:44.8; 10. Damian Hackett (Corn) 23:45.6; 11. Titouan Le Grix’ (Wingate-Fra) 23:46.8; 12. *Abraham Longosiwa’ (Hof-Ken) 23:49.4; 13. Benjamin Godish (NEn) 23:50.4; 14. ***Joshua McKee (UtSt) 23:51.2; 15. Ben Rosa (Harv) 23:52.6; 16. **Sam Burgess (Harv) 23:55.0.
Women’s Teams: 1. Harvard 134; 2. Connecticut 148; 4. Utah State 160; 5. Northeastern 231.
Individuals (6K): 1. Chloe Thomas’ (Ct-Can) 19:23.8; 2. *Vera Sjöberg’ (BU-Swe) 19:56.2; 3. Abigail Hassman (NEn) 20:01.5; 4. Daphnee Lavassas (Mia) 20:01.7; 5. Jenna Zydanowicz (Ct) 20:07.2; 6. Grace Weigele (SBr) 20:10.6; 7. Brooke Morabito (CCt) 20:11.6; 8. Augustine Haquet’ (Corn-Fra) 20:13.3; 9. Caroline Towle (Ct) 20:14.0; 10. Mena Scatchard’ (Prin-GB) 20:15.3; 11. Ava Duggan (NEn) 20:18.8; 12. **Anna McNatt (Prin) 20:19.2; 13. *Claire Archer (Yale) 20:22.4; 14. **Rose Coats (Md) 20:24.2; 15. Emma Thornley (UtSt) 20:27.0.