USU Cross Country wraps up season
This season of women’s and men’s cross-country at Utah State University ended on Oct. 31 in California the Mountain West Cross Country Championships. The women’s team placed No. 4 with the total team points for the meet 104. The men’s team placed No. 5 with a total of 117 points.
According to the Utah State Athletics press release on the championship, “Junior Natalie Swain finished 13th in the 6k race, earning second-team All-MW honors at the time of 20:22.4.”
After Swain’s finish was senior Sarah Ellis and junior Shelby Jensen, who finished No. 20 and 21.
The 2025 Mountain West Cross-Country Pre-Championship polls ranked USU cross country teams, under the direction of track and field and cross-country director Artie Gulden, No. 5.
“Both teams are excited for the conference championships, which should go without saying,” Gulden said. “It’s a great opportunity for us, and we will focus on executing the races we talk about and competing like crazy.”
This season, Utah State made its fifth appearance at the Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational in order to prepare for the cross-country postseason.
“We were able to get everything done,” Gulden said. “I think the key for both teams is execution/ I believe if we can execute the race plan well, both teams are ready for successful races.”
The 2025 season was also the 10th annual Steve T. Reeder Memorial Invitational in remembrance of distance coach Steve T. Reeder, who dedicated 35 years to coaching at USU, according to the Utah State Athletics press release. Brigham Young University, University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Weber State University, Snow College, Salt Lake Community College and College of Southern Idaho were at the meet.
“It’s a good chance for those racing to be on our home course and race against local competition,” Gulden said.
At the meet, USU’s women’s team placed No. 1, claiming the team title. The men’s team placed No. 4. Sophomore Alayna Wardle, senior Liz Phillips and junior Cameron Moore placed No. 7-9 with times of 19:04, 19:08 and 19:11 in the 5K. First-year student Taylor Palmer had a career-best finish with a time of 19:30.
The men’s team had junior Drew Hogan and sophomore John Simmons finish No. 8 and 9 in the 7K with times of 21:38 and 21:39. The team ended with a total of 84 points, while the BYU men’s team placed No. 1.
Later in the season, Jensen was named the Mountain West Women’s Athlete of the Week after finishing No. 3 in the Beehive Invitational hosted by Utah at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City. Jensen had a time of 17:52 in the women’s 5K, earning her first MW weekly award and second MW honor.
Gulden also announced his hiring of Joshua Hartvigsen as an operations assistant at the beginning of the 2025 cross country season.
“We are excited to have Josh join the staff,” Gulden said. “He will not only help us with photography and social media but will assist Erik [Rasmussen] with the jumpers. This will be huge for our team.”
Hartvigsen had a four-year career as a member of USU’s track and field team, representing at seven Mountain West championships. He was also in the 2025 All-MW Community Service Team and served as the co-president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, according to the Utah State Athletics press release.
“At the end of the day, it’s not complicated,” Gulden said. “We just need to compete our best.”