LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's cross country teams prevailed at the season-opening Utah State Alumni Challenge with a clean sweep of both individual and team titles.
 
Senior Jedidiah Megargel came in as the top finisher in the men's race, cutting 17 seconds off his personal best in the 7K, running a 20:47.84 to lead the Aggies to the top step of the podium. The men scored 25 points, nabbing three of the top five spots, courtesy of a late push from senior Walker Cole, who placed third with a 21:01.39, and senior Joshua Armstrong, who finished just behind, crossing in 21:04.43 for fourth place. Graduate LJ Floyd placed eighth with a 21:13.19 while senior Michael Moffat wrapped up the Aggie point scorers, running a 21:13.58.
 
"It was up in the air until the last four-to-six hundred meters," said Utah State's Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, Artie Gulden. "Walker and Josh were able to move up to three and four, and that really secured the race for us."
 
The women's team won in a dominant fashion, locking out the top six spots in the 5K race to score the minimum 15 points. After breaking away from the pack near the 3k mark, senior Natalie Swain led the field to the finish line, crossing with a 14-second margin at 17:59.42. Junior Ava Trimble (18:13.79), senior Brie Smith (18:19.24), sophomore Hailey Shakespear (18:19.59), and senior Shelby Jensen (18:19.89) rounded out the top five, with freshman Lucy Boone finishing sixth in her first collegiate meet with a time of 18:23.98.
 
"The ladies executed about as perfectly as we could have," Gulden said. "We wanted to keep our group together for 3k, and work together from there. Shelby and Lucy particularly had a great last 600 meters."
 
Ten student-athletes made their Aggie cross country debuts at the home meet, including junior transfer Omar Alsaidi, sophomore Tayshaun Ogomo, and freshman Aidan Neal for the men's team. The women's team featured newcomers Boone, freshmen Mia Taylor, Addy Duellman, Reese Garnica, Cami McCauley, sophomore Emma Morrow, and senior Avery Moore.
 
The Aggies also saw success across the country on Friday, as senior Joshua McKee won the 5k race at the Mike Baumer XC Classic in Dayton, Ohio, where his wife is training as a United States Air Force officer. McKee captured the title with a personal best time of 15:02.70.
 
"It was nice for him to get that win, racing where his family is," Gulden said. "We look forward to him meeting up with us and putting him in the mix with the guys in upcoming races."
 
Up Next
The Aggies take a week off as the men prepare for the John McNicols Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19, at the site of the NCAA Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana. The women's squad will make their way to Columbia, Missouri, for the Gans Creek Classic held the following week on Friday, Sept. 25.
 
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UTAH STATE ALUMNI CHALLENGE | Sept. 5, 2026 | Logan, Utah
Women's 5K Team Results
1. UTAH STATE – 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, (6), (11) – 15
1. Weber State – 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, (14), (18) – 51
3. Idaho State – 26, 27, 31, 35, 39, (40), (41) – 158
4. Utah State Alumni – 8, 23
 
Women's Top-Five Finishers: 
1. Natalie Swain (USU) – 17:59.42
2. Ava Trimble (USU) – 18:13.79
3. Brie Smith (USU) – 18:19.24
4. Hailey Shakespear (USU) – 18:19.59
5. Shelby Jensen (USU) – 18:19.89
 
Utah State Women's Results:
1. Natalie Swain – 17:59.42; 2. Ava Trimble – 18:13.79; 3. Brie Smith – 18:19.24; 4. Hailey Shakespear – 18:19.59; 5. Shelby Jensen – 18:19.89; 6. Lucy Boone – 18:23.98; 11. Meredith Sanford – 18:40.17; 15. Mia Taylor – 18:50.87; 16. Jane Williams – 18:54.54; 17. Addy Duellman – 18:57.57; 19. Avery Moore – 18:59.35; 22. Reese Garnica – 19:16.48; 28. Cami McCauley – 19:43.27; 34. Emma Morrow – 20:12.43

Men's 7K Team Results
1. UTAH STATE – 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, (12), (14) – 25
2. Weber State – 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, (11), (13) – 30
3. Idaho State – 27, 28, 34, 36, 38, (39), (40) – 163
4. Utah State Alumni – 18, 37, 41, 43, 44, (45), (46) – 183
 
Men's Top-Five Finishers: 
1. Jedidiah Megargel (USU) – 20:47.84
2. Jacob Peterson (Weber State) – 20:54.04
3. Walker Cole (USU) – 21:01.39
4. Joshua Armstrong (USU) – 21:04.43
5. Tyler Spencer (Weber State) – 21:06.75
 
Utah State Men's Results: 
1. Jedidaih Megargel (USU) – 20:47.84; 3. Walker Cole (USU) – 21:01.39; 4. Joshua Armstrong (USU) – 21:04.43; 8. LJ Floyd – 21:13.19; 9. Michael Moffat – 21:13.58; 12. Joseph McKee – 21:26.49; 14. Stockton Stevens – 21:33.64; 15. Jayden Holdsworth – 21:33.96; 16. Omar Alsaidi – 21:36.18; 17. Garrett Woodhouse – 21:36.75; 23. Aidan Neal – 22:14.53; 26. Tayshaun Ogomo – 22:38.12; 32. Bryce Hill– 23:09.59; 35. Michael Amitava Maiorano – 23:25.10
 
Full Results
 
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