[Cross Country] Donley comes out on top in Carol Swenson XC Invite; Falcon Men and Women each ...
McPherson, Kan. -- The Friends University Falcons captured both the men's and women's cross country meet championships at the Carol Swenson XC Invite Saturday (Sept. 6) in McPherson, Kan.
The Women's Falcons won the meet with an overall time of 1:45:13.15, with the men's squad finishing on top with a time of 1:27:47.93.
Aubry Donley (SO/Lincoln, Kan. ) fueled the Falcon women's title effort, winning the event with a time of 20:25.66, with Grace Garrison (JR/Clearwater, Kan. ) coming in second (20:52.04) to give the Falcons a sweep of the front row.
The Falcons finished with four of the top five runners, as Caroline Giles (SO/Minneapolis, Kan.) came in fourth (21:13.07) and Kara Zahariades (SR/Phoenix, Arizona) (21:14.66) wound up fifth.
Aileen Gurrola (SR/Colby, Kan. ) (eighth, 21:29.74), Jolene Jensen (JR/Exira, Iowa) (10th, 21:46.94), Nicole Sprague (SR/Haviland, Kan.) (11th, 21:54.92), Estrella Mendoza (12th, 22:12.26) Emma Willour (FR/Towanda, Kan. ) (13th, 22:16.43), Kayla Allen (SR/Lewiston, Maine) (15th, 22:49.16) and Macy Tucker (FR/Topeka, Kan. ) (18th, 22:57.19) all recorded top 20 finishes for the Falcons.
Friends University Women's Results:
Aubry Donley, 20:25.66
Grace Garrison, 20:52.04
Caroline Giles, 21:13.07
Kara Zahariades, 21:14.66
Aileen Gurrola, 21:29.74
Jolene Jensen, 21:46.94
Nicole Sprague, 21:54.92
Estrella Montiel, 22:12.26
Emma Willour, 22:16.43
Kayla Allen, 22:49.16
Macy Tucker, 22:57.19
Josie Russell (FR/Mulvane, Kan. ), 23:08.80
Nicole Vick (SO/Wichita, Kan.), 24:19.77
Sarah Tarn (FR/Montezuma, Kan. ), 24:27.47
Maren Blanka (SO/Wamego, Kan.), 24:30.79
"It was so nice to be able to load our vans up and take our crew out to run a race for the first time in almost seven months," said Jason Parr, Friends University men's and women's cross country head coach.
"I'm extremely proud of both our men's and women's teams for the effort that they put out on Saturday. We have a lot new faces in our program this year and a lot of returners. We are truly excited about the possibilities of our team performing really well later in the season. For our kids I know this was a sense of relief and a great opportunity for them to get back to doing the things that they love."
The Falcon men placed a pair of runners in the top five and five in the top 10, paced by Isaac Oquendo (FR/Haysville, Kan. )'s (17:19.79) fourth place effort and a fifth place showing by Kade Gerlach (SR/Mulvane, Kan. ) (17:20.98).
Logan White (SR/Wichita, Kan.) came in seventh (17:30.87), while Aaron Espinoza (JR/Tucson, Ariz.) (17:42.16) and Nathan Standley (17:54.13) finished ninth and 10th, respectively.
Noah Cole (FR/Hutchinson, Kan. ) (11th, 17:54.64) and Cole Bixler-Large (FR/Clearwater, Kan. ) (12th, 18:03.28) were right behind the top 10 group.
The Falcons also got a 15th place performance from Cordale Harrison (SR/Canton, Texas) (18:17.78), with Jadon Davis (SO/Baltimore, Md. ) (18:48.36) coming in the 20th spot overall.
Friends University Men's Results:
Isaac Oquendo, 17:19.79
Kade Gerlach, 17:20.98
Logan White, 17:30.87
Aaron Espinoza, 17:42.16
Nate Standley, 17:54.13
Noah Cole, 17:54.64
Cole Bixler-Large, 18:03.28
Cordale Harrison, 18:17.78
Jadon Davis, 18:48.36
Josiah Bolton (SO/Ellsworth, Kan. ), 19:10.56
Britton Hinners, 19:46.20
Keaton Mannebach (SO/Andale, Kan. ), 20:16.06
Gage Carr (FR/Halstead, Kan. ), 21:09.74
"Next week (Sept. 12) we will be heading to the Bronco Stampede out in Hastings (Neb.)," Parr said. "I look forward to watching our kids improve again this weekend and have an opportunity to get back into a routine of racing."