Creighton Men’s Strong Team Performance
In the recent cross-country race, Creighton’s men’s team emerged victorious with a team effort that saw them clinch the top spot in the team standings. Despite South Dakota having four runners in the top nine, Creighton’s fifth runner, Ryan Montera, played a crucial role in securing the win. The Jays finished with 37 points, edging out South Dakota by two points. Nebraska-Kearney and NW Missouri State followed closely behind with 83 and 89 points, respectively, in the highly competitive men’s race that featured 89 runners.
Individual Standouts
In the men’s race, Marcos Gonzalez, Jake Ziebarth, and Tommy Murray led the charge for the CU men’s side. Gonzalez grabbed the third spot with a time of 18:06.51, closely followed by Ziebarth in fourth with a time of 18:08.42. Murray finished in sixth place, clocking in at 18:12.70, while newcomer Noah Jodon made an impressive debut for Creighton by securing the 10th spot with a time of 18:16.53. Noteworthy performances also came from Montera in 14th place and Cole Haith in 23rd. The freshmen contingent, including Lucas Bossinger, Sam Berlinghof, Diego Barron, and Gus Lampe, showed promise in their collegiate debut races.
Insight: Freshmen Contribution
The strong showing by the freshmen runners bodes well for the future of the team, as they displayed potential and competitiveness in their first collegiate race. Their presence adds depth to the team and augurs well for Creighton’s prospects in upcoming races.
Notable Women’s Performances
On the women’s side, Katherine Soule led Creighton with a fifth-place finish on the 5K course, crossing the line in 18:07.23. Taylor Rorick followed closely in 12th place with a time of 18:26.28. The sophomore duo of Claire Pyne and Scarlett Pearlman finished in 28th and 29th place, respectively, while junior Anika Nettekoven completed the scoring contingent in 35th place. Freshman Madeline Lage made a strong collegiate debut, finishing 45th with a time of 19:24.62.
Insight: Personal Best Performances
It is worth noting that Soule’s impressive time was a significant improvement from her previous best at the 5K distance. The fact that all of CU’s top five finishers achieved collegiate bests in the 5K distance speaks to their dedication and progress in training.
Team Standings
Nebraska-Kearney’s Reece Ewoldt claimed victory in the women’s race with a time of 17:50.51, leading UNK to victory in the team standings with 22 points. South Dakota and NW Missouri State secured second and third place, respectively, ahead of Creighton, who finished with 91 points.
Future Competitions
Both Creighton teams are set to compete next at the Woody Greeno/Dirksen Cross-Country Invitational in Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 21. This upcoming race will provide another opportunity for the teams to showcase their talent and continue their pursuit of excellence in the cross-country season.
