LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams each placed second at the Utah State Alumni Challenge at Steve and Dona Reeder Cross Country Course on Saturday. Junior Natalie Swain was the top collegiate performer in the women's 5K race, while sophomore Bryce Hill led the Aggie men with a sixth-place collegiate finish in the men's 7K race.
 
"We had a good meet," said Artie Gulden, USU's director of track & field and cross country. "We were able to learn a lot of things about both teams, and they are in a really good spot."
 
The USU men started off the morning with a second-place team total of 49 points. Hill paced the Aggies' lead pack with an eighth-overall time of 21:09. The four other Aggie scorers occupied 10th through 13th place, with sophomore Walker Cole finishing in 21:11, junior Michael Maiorano, in his first race in an Aggie uniform, clocking in at 21:13, sophomore Joshua Armstrong finishing in 21:16, and sophomore Garrett Woodhouse crossing the line in 21:21. Camren Todd, who earned All-American honors for the Aggies at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships, won the race with a time of 20:38 while competing for the Utah State Alumni team.
 
The Aggie women capped off the meet with a strong team showing, earning 35 points to claim second place as a team. Swain's second-place time of 17:58 led the way, followed by junior Caroline Moon's third-place time of 18:05. Freshman Hailey Shakespear finished seventh in her Utah State debut with a time of 18:23. Senior Elizabeth Phillips placed 11th and junior Camilla McKinstry finished 12th to round out the Aggie scorers, clocking in at 18:42 and 18:45, respectively. Emma Thornley, a two-time All-Mountain Region runner in 2023-24 and winner of this event in 2021, completed the Utah State Alumni sweep of the individual titles with her winning time of 17:47.
 
"Over the next few weeks, we will just be focusing on improving and getting better each week," said Gulden. "Today was a good start and I think we are set up nicely to get where we want to go this season."
 
Todd and Thornley were among 22 alumni of the Utah State cross country program to compete in Saturday's meet. The Utah State Alumni Challenge, formerly known as the Sagebrush Invitational, has served as the Aggies' season opener every year since the 2021 fall campaign.
 
Utah State returns to action on Friday, Sept. 12, when the Aggies travel to Salt Lake City for the Westminster-hosted Beehive Invitational.
 
Fans can follow the Utah State cross country programs on X at USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on X at USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
UTAH STATE ALUMNI CHALLENGE | August 30, 2025 | Logan, Utah
Women's 5K Team Results
1. Weber State – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, (10), (14) – 32
2. UTAH STATE – 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, (17), (18) – 35
3. Idaho State – 13, 15, 18, 20, 21, (23), (25) – 87
4. Utah State Alumni – 1, 19, 22, 24, 26, (27), (28) – 92
 
Women's Top-Five Finishers: 1. Emma Thornley (Utah State Alumni) – 17:47; 2. Natalie Swain (USU) – 17:58; 3. Caroline Moon (USU) –18:05; 4. Frances Hudson (Weber State) – 18:11; 5. Audrey Camp Cazier (Weber State) – 18:16.
 
Utah State Women's Results: 2. Natalie Swain – 17:58; 3. Caroline Moon – 18:05; 7. Hailey Shakespear – 18:23; 11. Elizabeth Phillips – 18:42; 12. Camilla McKinstry – 18:45; 18. Cameron Moore – 18:53; 19. Alayna Wardle – 18:55; 20. Chelsea Shakespear – 18:57; 24. Cailey Bracken – 19:04; 26. Charlotte Felt – 19:17.
 
Men's 7K Team Results
1. Weber State – 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, (13), (14) – 20
2. UTAH STATE – 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, (15), (16) – 49
3. Idaho State – 8, 17, 18, 20, 21, (24), (25) – 69
4. Utah State Alumni – 1, 19, 22, 23, 26, (27), (28) – 91
 
Men's Top-Five Finishers: 1. Camren Todd (Utah State Alumni) – 20:38; 2. Jacob Peterson (Weber State) – 20:43; 3. Owen Rogers (Weber State) – 20:54; 4. Peter Visser (Weber State) – 20:56; 5. Kelton Gagnon (Weber State) – 21:00.
 
Utah State Men's Results: 8. Bryce Hill – 21:09; 10. Walker Cole – 21:11; 11. Michael Maiorano – 21:13; 12. Joshua Armstrong – 21:16; 13. Garrett Woodhouse – 21:21; 16. Joseph McKee – 21:22; 18. Will Dixon – 21:31; 22. Luke Stockett – 21:38; 25. John Simmons – 21:48; 28. Ethan Peterson – 21:54; 43. Drew Hogan – 23:07.
 
-USU-