Men Take Fourth, Women Eighth in Record Setting Day
photo credit: John Durgee
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (October 4, 2024) – In a field of four nationally ranked teams on the men’s and women’s side, the Cowboys finished fourth with five Top 15 program times and the Cowgirls finished eighth with another six Top 15 times, Friday morning. All 10 of the scoring five in the program put up their personal best finish in the 8k and 5k races while eight now top the program's top times.
The Cowboys, led by junior Jacob White, finished with 150 points only behind No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 4 Northern Arizona and No. 29 Cal Baptist in a field of 19 teams.
“Jacob [White] had an awesome race, mixing it up with many All-Americans,” said head coach Scott Dahlberg. “I’m sure he was hurting like crazy, but he looked strong and fast.”
White came in ninth place with a personal best time of 22:49.3 and the program record in the 8k. Finishing next for the men was senior Mason Norman with a personal best time of 23:12.8 for 26th overall. Junior Ryker Holtzen crossed the line 33rd with his best 8k time at 23:19.8. Senior Gus McIntyre saw his best time in the 8k with a finish of 23:20.7 for 35th. Rounding out the scoring five was senior Dylan van der Hock with a time of 23:33.0, also a personal best for 48th.
On the men’s team performance today Dahlberg said, “The men backed up their performance from two weeks ago and even improved upon it. It was a very fast race from the gun. They found good position and battled hard to maintain.” He added, “[Today was] another confidence boost heading into Pre Nationals.”
The new Top 15 list in the 8k looks as follows:
1. Jacob White 22:49 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
2. Mason Norman 23:12 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
3. Ryker Holtzen 23:19 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
4. Gus McIntyre 23:20 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
5. Harry Ewing 23:22 2019 MW Championships
6. Henry Christopher 23:26 2019 MW Championships
7. Paul Roberts 23:30 2019 MW Championships
8. Dylan van der Hock 23:33 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
9. Jacob White 23:37 2023 Pre Nationals
10. Mark Korir 23:41 2007 NCAA Pre-Nationals
11. Ryker Holtzen 23:41 2023 Pre Nationals
12. Jacob White 23:42 2022 MW Championships
13. Amos Bowen 23:43 2014 Washington Invite
14. Mark Korir 23:43 2008 NCAA Pre-Nationals
15. Amos Bowen 23:51 2014 MW Championships
Other finishers for the men were seniors Trevor Stephen and Mac Zastrow finishing together with personal best times of 24:05.3 and 24:05.5, respectively, and sophomore Riley Nedrow running a personal best by over a minute with a time of 25:14.6.
The Cowgirls put up 261 points and six Top 15 times in a field that held 22 teams. Senior Kylie Simshauser led the way once again as she took 19th with a personal best time of 16:39.6 and resetting the 5k program record. Her time bests the mark she set at the Wyoming Invite by over 30 seconds.
“Kylie [Simshauser] is gaining more confidence and stringing together some great performances,” said Dahlberg. Simshauser has led the Cowgirls in every meet this season. “She’s competing at another level.”
Coming in 48th was senior Abigail Whitman with a time of 16:58.8, a personal best by nearly a minute. Next was Eowyn Dalbec crossing the line at 17:02.5, a personal best and good for 56th. Coming fourth for the Cowgirls was junior Madelyn Blazo with a personal best time of 17:13.1 for 70th. Her previous best time in the 5k was 18:15.9 in this season’s Wyoming Invite. With the final scoring spot for the women, junior Hailey Uhre finished in 87th with a time of 17:24.8, a personal best by over a minute.
On the Cowgirls race today Dahlberg stated, “The women competed really well and gained some great experience in today’s race. On a course like this that is fast and congested, it’s important to get good position early and they learned more about executing that.” At media day earlier this season, Dahlberg noted that the race in South Bend was one of the flattest they would see all season long.
Four more finishers for the Cowgirls posted some of their best 5k times. Graduate Marina Trave Ferrer ran a time of 17:29.2, senior Leah Christians ran to a 17:39.6 finish, freshman Hanan Aldelemy crossed the line at 18:00.6 and junior Rozlyn Slichko finished at 18:08.9.
Dahlberg closed by saying, “We know there is more but a really great day for them in beating a couple teams we were keying on.”
With today’s meet, the 5k Top 15 now looks like this:
1. Kylie Simshauser 16:39 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
2. Abigail Whitman 16:58 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
3. Eowyn Dalbec 17:02 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
4. Madelyn Blazo 17:13 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
5. Kylie Simshauser 17:14 2024 Wyoming Invite
6. Katelyn Mitchem 17:15 2022 Wyoming Invite
7. Holly Page 17:18 2013 Highlander Invite
8. Kacey Doner 17:22 2019 Joe Piane Invitational
9. Christine Nelson 17:23 2010 Chile Pepper Festival
10. Katelyn Mitchem 17:24 2019 Joe Piane Invitational
11. Hailey Uhre 17:24 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
12. Marina Trave Ferrer17:29 2024 Joe Piane Invitational
13. Leah Christians 17:31 2022 Wyoming Invite
14. Megan Brunette 17:34 2013 Highlander Invite
15. Audra DeStefano 17:37 2015 Colorado State Invite
The Cowboys and Cowgirls will be back on the course for the Pre Nationals meet in Madison, Wis., the host site of the NCAA Cross Country Championships, October 19.
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