SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The ninth-ranked Notre Dame men’s cross country team earned a strong team win while the third-ranked women’s cross country team took third at the 2024 Joe Piane Invitational on Friday morning.
WOMEN’S RACE
Overcast and cool conditions lent themselves to fast times across the board in the women’s Blue 5k. The No. 3 ranked women’s team posted a team score of 70 in a tight finish at the top of the scoreboard. Second-ranked Northern Arizona placed first with a 52 while No. 5 BYU placed second with a score of 65.
The Irish women were led by a personal record effort from Siona Chisholm with a time of 16:15.0 for fifth place overall. Emily Covert had a strong debut in a Notre Dame uniform with an eighth place finish in a time of 16.22.5.
Erin Strzelecki cut 15 seconds off of her time from the National Catholic Invitational on the same course two weeks ago with a 16:32.2 for 14th. Gretchen Farley (16:40.8) and Arianne Olson (16:40.8) finished side-by-side to wrap up the team scoring efforts.
Isabel Allori and Mary Bonner Dalton both ran unattached and were right with the lead pack of Irish. Allori ran a 16:42.1 to place 23rd, and Dalton turned in a 16:42.6 to place 24th.
Women’s Race Results (Top Five)
Siona Chisholm – 5th (16:15.0)
Emily Covert – 8th (16:22.5)
Erin Strzelecki – 14th (16:32.2)
Gretchen Farley – 21st (16:40.8)
Arianne Olson – 22nd (16:40.8)
Women’s Blue Race Team Standings (Blue 5k Race)
1. Northern Arizona – 52
2. BYU – 65
3. Notre Dame – 70
4. Liberty – 189
5. Boise State – 204
6. Texas Tech – 236
7. Adams State – 243
8. Wyoming – 261
9. Michigan State – 300
10. Oklahoma – 356
11. Vanderbilt – 373
12. Washington State – 374
13. Bradley – 396
14. Grand Valley State – 409
15. Eastern Michigan – 418
16. California Baptist – 429
17. Belmont – 439
18. Kansas – 445
19. Western Ontario – 446
20. Central Michigan – 453
21. Purdue – 481
22. Mississippi State – 489
MEN’S RACE
The No. 9 ranked men stayed the course and stayed together for a strong pack finish to capture the team title in the Blue 8k. The Irish posted a 55 to take the win over No. 4 Northern Arizona (68).
Ethan Coleman posted his first sub-23 minute 8k for a new personal record while helping to pace the Irish men to the win with a 22:49.0 for eighth place overall.
Joining Coleman with sub-23 minute times were Daelen Ackley (22:51.7), Izaiah Steury (22:52.1), Drew Griffith (22:53.9), and Carter…