CROSS COUNTRY

The HU cross country program dominated their own invitational Friday night to claim first place in both the men’s and women’s races. The Foresters also kept the individual titles at home with Emma Wilson winning the women’s 5K and Adrien Gentie crossing the line first in the men’s 8K.

On the women’s side, Huntington cruised to the win with 24 points behind Wilson who won by a landslide. Her time of 17:13.2 not only established a new course record by 25 seconds but was nearly 90 seconds faster than the second place finisher.

Sydney Lambert finished third for Johnson’s crew in 18:47.7 followed by Saige Norris coming in two spots later in 19:10.5. Jessica Chojnacki turned in a 19:21.0 good for 6th place while Olivia Von Gunten rounded out HU’s scoring with her 9th place finish in 19:35.0.

Their team time of 1:34.07.7 is a new program record. Other runners for HU included Ireland Dodson (14th, 20:23.7), Erin Manchess (26th, 21:42.2), Megan Miller (21:51.8), Shaylynn Reyes (21:57.2), Emma St. Peters (22:04.7), Lauren Craig (22:18.8) and Meg McDonald (22:25.8).

“Several of our athletes set new PRs today which isn’t easy because of the hilly terrain and creek crossings,” said Coach Johnson. “And setting a new team time school record definitely shows that we’re one of the top teams in the nation.”

Gentie had a record-breaking day for the HU men. His first place time of 25:07.6 set a new course record by nearly 30 seconds and he, like Wilson, ran away from the field with over 35 seconds separating him from the next competitor. In the process of breaking the 8K program record, he also established a new men’s 5K course record in route.

The Foresters claimed three out of the next four spots with Kent Yoder clocking in at 25:44.1 for 2nd place. Haile Stutzman (25:52.8) and Aaron Hendryx (26:00.2) took 4th and 5th respectively while Reece Gibson finished next for HU in 26:28.4 to round out the scoring at the No. 7 spot.

Austin Liepe finished 8th in 26:42.7 as Huntington nabbed six of the first eight places in the race. Other harriers for Huntington included Kody Ahrens (19th, 28:02.8), Justin Ayers (29:18.0), Justin Edwards (29:54.9). Logan Busz (30:04.8) and Paul Bickel (31:14.6).

The Foresters are back in action next weekend and will split the squad with a group going to Bethel on Friday and another group headed to Cedar Rapids for the NAIA Seminole Valley Stampede on Saturday.