BOISE, Idaho – At the first cross country championships of the new Pac-12 era, Utah State's men's team finished as the runners-up while the women finished fourth.
 
The women's team kicked off the day, led by seniors Natalie Swain and Sarah Ellis, who ran together in the top five for the first two 2k loops of Boise State's Warm Springs Golf Course, with junior Ava Trimble entering the mix during the second lap to help the Aggies to a fourth-place finish with 85 points. Swain held the fifth-place spot as No. 11 Washington State's Nelly Jemeli and Millie Bii, along with Boise State's Kaiya Robertson, broke away for the title fight. Washington State prevailed with 50 team points as Jemeli captured the individual title.
 
The men's squad ran in a tight pack through the entirety of the 8k race, scoring 56 points to place second, behind Gonzaga, which scored 39 points. All five Aggie point scorers finished in the top 15, clocking four personal bests, led by junior Joshua Armstrong, who finished fifth. Washington State's Solomon Kipchoge took the individual championship with a dominant final loop after running alongside teammate Evans Kurui and Boise State's Brian Kiprotich through the first 6k.
 
"I am really proud of both teams," said Utah State's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Artie Gulden. "Our women having three all-conference honors is more than we've had in a long time. They ran very well. Our men executed just as we hoped and ran super tough. Sometimes another team catches one, and Gonzaga did that today, but we did what we needed to do to give ourselves a chance to win."
 
The Aggies combined for seven all-conference honors, awarded to the top fourteen finishers at the conference championships, with the top seven earning first-team recognition. Three all-conference honors on the women's side is the highest tally for the Aggies since 2017, while the men matched their 2020 count with four. The combined total is the most the program has seen since 2011.
 
On the women's side, Swain finished with first-team honors while Junior Ava Trimble and senior Sarah Ellis were named to the second team. Four of the men's five scorers earned all-conference recognition, with Armstrong as the lone first-team selection for the Aggies. Junior Jedidiah Megargel, senior Logan Garnica, and junior Walker Cole were each named to the second team.
 
Swain maintained her perfect record of pacing the Aggies this season, running a 20:14.1 to earn her second career selection to the all-conference team and first appearance on the first team. Trimble came across the line in 20:22.9 to finish eighth, while Ellis finished tenth with a 20:25.9, both clocking personal bests. Bre Smith recorded her season-best time, finishing in 20:44.2 for a 22nd-place result. Shelby Jensen rounded out USU's scorers, finishing in 42nd with a 21:14.5. Underscoring the 6k was a personal best by freshman Addy Duellman who crossed in 21:54.6 to finish 61st and senior Avery Moore, who gained 19 places in the second 2k split, the most of any runner.
 
The men's squad was paced by Armstrong, the first repeat leader for the Aggies this season. He crossed the finish line in a personal best 23:35.6 to finish fifth for his highest result of the season. Megargel ran a steady race, never appearing outside of the top 10, running a 23:46.4 to finish 10th. The rest of the Aggie pack was led by senior Logan Garnica, who clocked a 23:55.0, finishing 12th in his first 8k race of the season. Cole and junior Jayden Holdsworth finished side-by-side, posting a 23:58.8 and 23.59.1, respectively.  They pulled each other along through the final split, gaining four spots apiece to finish 14th and 15th. Freshman Stockton Stevens also recorded a personal best 24:55.5, finishing 35th.
 
UP NEXT
The Aggies take a week-long hiatus before traveling to Albuquerque for the NCAA Mountain Regionals. The women's 6k will take place on Friday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. while the men step up to the 10k distance as they race at noon.
 
FOLLOW
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.
 
Pac-12 Cross Country Championships | October 30, 2026 | Boise Idaho
Accolades
Women's Pac-12 Runner of the Year - Nelly Jemeli – Washington State
Women's Pac-12 Freshman of the Year - Millie Bii – Washington State
Men's Pac-12 Runner of the Year – Solomon Kipchoge, Washington State
Men's Pac-12 Freshman of the Year – Dylan Rowell, Gonzaga
 
Utah State Women's All-Conference Honorees
Natalie Swain – First Team
Ava Trimble – Second Team
Sarah Ellis – Second Team
 
Utah State Men's All-Conference Honorees
Joshua Armstrong – First Team
Jedidiah Megargel – Second Team
Logan Garnica – Second Team
Walker Cole – Second Team

Women's 6K Championship Race Team Results:
1. No. 1 Washington State – 1, 3, 13, 15, 18, (20), (34) – 50
2. Boise State – 2, 6, 14, 17, 23, (28), (29) – 62
3. Oregon State – 4, 11, 16, 24, 25, (37), (41) – 80
4. UTAH STATE – 5, 8, 10, 22, 40, (43), (49) – 85
5. Gonzaga – 7, 9, 26, 27, 32, (33), (35) – 101

Women's Top Five Finishers:
1. Nelly Jemeli (WSU) – 19:57.0
2. Kaiya Robertson (BSU) – 19:59.2
3. Millie Bii (WSU) – 20:07.5
4. Noemi Lundgren (OSU) – 20:12.4
5. Natalie Swain (USU) – 20:14.1
 
Utah State Women's Results:
5. Natalie Swain – 20:14.1; 8. Ava Trimble – 20:22.9; 10. Sarah Ellis – 20:25.9; 22. Bre Smith – 20:44.2; 42. Shelby Jensen – 21:14.5; 48. Avery Moore – 21:32.7; 56. Hailey Shakespear 21:41.3; 61. Addy Duellman – 21:54.6; 70. Lucy Boone – 22:27.5.

Men's 8K Championship Race Team Results:
1. Gonzaga – 4, 6, 7, 9, 13, (20), (21) – 39
2. UTAH STATE – 5, 10, 12, 14, 15, (19, (24) – 56
3. (RV) Washington State – 1, 2, 11, 18, 27, (33), (36) – 59
4. Boise State – 3, 8, 16, 17, 22, (25), (30) – 66
5. Colorado State – 23, 26, 28, 32, 35, (37), (39) – 144

Men's Top Five Finishers:
1. Solomon Kipchoge (WSU) – 22:46.8
2. Evans Kurui (WSU) – 22:57.8
3. Brian Kiprotich (BSU) – 23:12.2
4. Dylan Weniger (Gonzaga) – 23:35.0
5. Joshua Armstrong (USU) – 23:35.6

Utah State Men's Results:
5. Joshua Armstrong – 23:35.6; 10. Jedidiah Megargel – 23:46.4; 12. Logan Garnica – 23:55.9; 14. Walker Cole – 23:58.8; 15. Jayden Holdsworth – 23:59.1; 19. Joseph McKee – 24:03.8; 24. Garrett Woodhouse – 24:22.7; 25. Michael Moffat – 24.24.7; 35. Stockton Stevens – 24:55.5; 46. Omar Alsaidi – 25:35.4.

-USU-