TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams capped off the regular season on Friday morning at the Under Armour Pre-National Invitational.
The men's squad placed 13th out of 44 teams, scoring 342 points to top Mountain Region opponent No. 26 Utah Valley, while the women's squad scored 562 points to place 21st in its 43-team field. The team title went to No. 8 Syracuse on the men's side, with Tulane's Silas Kiptanui taking the individual victory. No. 1 North Carolina State (88) and No. 2 BYU (84) battled for the victory in the women's race, with BYU eking out the title by just four points, despite a race win from NC State's Hannah Gapes.
In the men's 8k, junior Josh Armstrong paced the Aggies for the first time this season, crossing in 23:52.4 to place 41st, shaving a minute from his previous time at the Lavern Gibson Cross Country Course. Senior
Joseph McKee posted his season-best time running a 24:03.2 and finishing in 61st place. Junior
Walker Cole passed 11 runners in the final split to place 76th, clocking a 24:10.5. Junior
Michael Moffatt finished in 79th with a 24:11.6, and
Garrett Woodhouse rounded out the Aggies' scorers, stopping the clock at 24:12.9 to finish 85th.
The women's side saw
Natalie Swain pace the Aggies for the third time this season, placing 50th with a time of 20:22.9. Senior
Brie Smith crossed in 20:51.8 to come in 94th place, while senior
Sarah Ellis finished in 20:54.4 in her first 6k of the season, placing 100th. Junior
Ava Trimble completed the race in 21:04.0, taking 120th place ahead of
Hailey Shakespear, USU's final scorer, who finished 216th in 21:41.0.
UP NEXT
The Aggies begin their postseason slate in Boise, Idaho, for their first run in the Pac-12 Conference Championship on Friday, Oct. 30.
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Under Armour Pre-National Invitational | October 16, 2026 | Terre Haute, Ind.
Women's 6K Championship Race Team Results:
1. No. 2 BYU – 9, 14, 18, 20, 23, (24), (27) – 84
2. No. 1 NC State – 1, 8, 13, 32, 34, (42), (61) – 88
3. No. 7 Notre Dame – 26, 36, 48, 49, 54, (84) – 213
4. No. 23 Clemson – 4, 11, 16, 47, 151, (206) – 229
5. No. 19 North Carolina – 30, 38, 58, 60, 63, (67), (78) – 249
21. UTAH STATE – 50, 91, 96, 116, 209, (216), (217) – 562
Women's Top Five Finishers:
1. Hannah Gapes (NC State) – 18:57.6
2. Faith Chelangat (Auburn) – 19:15.5
3. Ann Lemirisho (Kentucky) – 19:16.8
4. Silvia Jelelgo (Clemson) – 19:18.5
5. Mercy Chepkemoi (Arizona) – 19:19.1
Utah State Women's Results:
50.
Natalie Swain – 20:22.9; 94.
Brie Smith – 20:51.8; 100.
Sarah Ellis – 20:54.4; 120.
Ava Trimble – 21:04.0; 216.
Hailey Shakespear – 21:41.0; 225.
Shelby Jensen – 21:45.2; 226.
Avery Moore – 21:46.2; 272.
Lucy Boone – 22:08.7.
Men's 8K Championship Race Team Results:
1. No. 8 Syracuse – 15, 16, 18, 22, 44, (59), (91) – 115
2. No. 14 Villanova – 6, 25, 26, 28, 42, (89), (113) – 127
3. No. 15 Notre Dame – 4, 14, 39, 43, 48, (115), (151) – 148
4. Wichita State – 2, 3, 57, 58, 92, (240), (262) – 212
5. No. 29 North Carolina – 19, 32, 37, 74, 81, (102), (108) – 243
13. UTAH STATE – 41, 61, 76, 79, 85, (123), (158) – 342
Men's Top Five Finishers:
1. Silas Kiptanui (Tulane) – 23:17.4
2. Elkana Kipruto (Wichita State) – 23:18.8
3. Nicholas Kipchirchir (Wichita State) – 23:19.8
4. Daelen Ackley (Notre Dame) – 23:20.5
5. Edward Bird (Kentucky) – 23:21.0
Utah State Men's Results:
41. Josh Armstrong – 23:52.4; 61.
Joseph McKee – 24:03.2; 76.
Walker Cole – 24:10.5; 79.
Michael Moffatt – 24:11.6; 85.
Garrett Woodhouse – 24:12.9; 124.
Jedidiah Megargel – 24:26.0; 164.
Jayden Holdsworth – 24:34.9; 219.
Joshua McKee – 24:51.4.
Full Results
- USU -
