On Sept. 21, the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams both competed at the Greeno/Dirksen Invitation in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Men’s team placed fifth overall in the Gold Division, where they were also the second-best NAIA team behind the University of Saint Mary.
Leading the men’s team was freshman Porter Bickley, who placed 21st overall and ran a time of 25:58.4. Although this is the second race of his college career, he is the first Tiger to run a sub-26-minute race since Alec Wick in 2019. Placing 27th was senior Thomas Oliver, who ran a time of 26:07.1. Placing 40th was junior Luke Bonifas with a time of 26:31.1, a couple of seconds after Bonifas was junior Nelson Ruto, who had a time of 26:36.8 and placed 42nd, and after Ruto was junior Emmanuel Yego, who had a time of 26:40.3, which placed him 46th. Junior Micheal Grigsby placed 58th with a time of 26:55.7, and two places behind him was freshman Jayden Wall, who had a time of 26:56.6 to round out the Tiger’s top seven scorers.
Switching over to the Women’s Team, they placed ninth overall in the Gold Division as well. Leading the women’s team was junior Danie Parriott, who placed 51st and ran a time of 20:01.9, and just two seconds later was junior Calla Wittland, who placed 52nd with a time of 20:03.0. Finishing in 66th was freshman Mackenzy Lippold, who had a time of 20:27.2, and having a time of 20:33.4 and placing 71st was sophomore Grace Colbert. Finishing up the Tigers top seven was sophomore Laura Hasemann, who had a time of 21:14.6 and placed 96th. Placing 112th with a time of 21:34.9 was freshman Marissa Miles, and just behind her was sophomore Delaney Catron, who had a time of 21:52.9, which put her in 120th.
On Oct. 12, both Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams will be traveling to Sioux Center, Iowa, to compete in the Dordt Holiday Inn Classic, with the women starting at 10 a.m. and the men starting at 10:45 a.m.
