Cross Country captures first-ever Mountain West title
The Utah State Aggies hosted the Mountain West Cross Country Championships on Friday morning, and the Men’s Cross Country team dominated the field, gaining its first ever Mountain West Title in the process. The Aggies, who were ranked second before the competition, scored a total of 42 points, while the second and third place finishers Colorado State and Wyoming, scored 74 and 75 respectively. The Aggies Women’s Cross Country team didn’t fare as well but still gave a respectable performance scoring 134 points, placing fifth in a field of 11.
While the Men’s victory was certainly a team effort, the performance of several Aggies stand out. The foremost being that of Senior Dallin Farnsworth. Farnsworth’s time in the eight kilometers was a blistering 21:14.2 which broke the previous Mountain West Championship record by 20 seconds. Farnsworth also became the first Aggie to ever win a Mountain West Championship race and was awarded the Mountain West Men’s Student-Athlete of the Year.
In the same race, seniors Luke Beattie and James Withers enjoyed great performances placing fifth and sixth respectively. All three received first-team all-Mountain West honors. Sophomore Caleb Garnica also had a stand out performance, earning second-team all-Mountain West honors, and ended the race in 14th. Other finishers included senior J.D. Thorne (16th), junior Haydon Cooper (21st), sophomore Roberto Porras (23rd), senior Adam Hendrickson (27th) and Freshman Max Wehrli (55th).
Photo by Wade Denniston/USU Athletics
Coach Artie Gulden didn’t go unrecognized for the team’s success, as he earned the Mountain West Men’s Coach of the Year Award, the first time that the honor has come to a coach at Utah State.
The Utah State Aggies Women’s Cross Country team had a fifth-place finish, led by Junior Katie Struthers-Haviland who placed 18th in the six kilometers with a time of 21:00.4. Freshmen Mimi Miyazawa and Arianna Steiner were the next Aggies to cross the finish line, Miyazawa coming in at 22nd with a time of 21:05.1 and Steiner coming in at 31st with a time of 21:16.1. Farther back in the race, the Aggies stuck together, with sophomore Mica Rivera, Freshman Reagan Hoopes, senior Josie Givens and freshman Abby Jenson finishing 35th through 38th. Then sophomore Madison Taylor and freshman Bailey Brinkerhoff finishing 41st and 42nd.
The Aggies had a split of only 25 seconds, a tournament-best.
The Aggies had a strong showing on Friday morning, and they will be looking to carry that momentum to Salt Lake City, where they will compete in the NCAA Mountain Region Championships on Friday, November 15th at 11 A.M.