FIRST SIGNS of life for the NCAA harrier season broke out as September gave way to October. The Nuttycombe Invitational (men’s report | women’s report), at what will serve as the harrier nationals site come November, was hardly the only fixture of note. Squads in many instances raced without every last A-teamer suited up yet laid down some markers.
adidas Challenge — NC State Building Back
Cary, North Carolina, September 21 — Coach Laurie Henes’s Wolfpack has a legacy of 3 straight NCAA team crowns to live up to and kick-started the process with a 34–51 triumph over runner-up Clemson.
Tiger Judy Kosgei (19th at the ’23 Nationals) led home two Clemson newcomers, Silvia Jelego and Gladys Chepngetich. But NC Staters Grace Hartman, Hannah Gapes and Fiona Smith showed in 4th–6th, the front end of depth that secured the team victory.
NC State men Brett Gardner, an Olympic Trials steeple qualifier last spring, and Toby Gualter ran up front in the men’s race as their side of the Pack fell to Liberty 46–51. JoJo Jourdon — the NXN prep champion last year now at Wake Forest — ran unattached in 3rd.
Men’s Teams: 1. Liberty 46; 2. NC State 51; 3. Wake Forest 73.
Individuals (6K): 1. Brett Gardner (NCSt) 17:37.2; 2. Toby Gualter (NCSt) 17:39.4; 3. JoJo Jourdon (unat) 17:42.1; 4. Sawyer Dagan (Clem) 17:44.7; 5. Noah Valyo (unat) 17:52.1; 6. Nicholas Kiprotich’ (Lib-Ken) 17:57.7; 7. ***Edwin Kiprop’ (Lib-Ken) 17:59.7; 8. **Tristian Merchant (Lib) 18:00.6; 9. Wesley Bond (GM) 18:01.1; 10. **Jackson Keefer (WF) 18:02.4.
Women’s Teams: 1. NC State 34; 2. Clemson 51; 3. Liberty 67.
Individuals (5K): 1. **Judy Kosgei’ (Clem-Ken) 16:11.1; 2. ***Silvia Jelego’ (Clem-Ken) 16:17.6; 3. **Gladys Chepngetich’ (Clem-Ken) 16:24.2; 4. *Grace Hartman (NCSt) 16:25.9; 5. *Hannah Gapes (NCSt) 16:26.5; 6. Fiona Smith (NCSt) 16:53.8; 7. ***Allie Zealand (Lib) 16:59.4; 8. ***Kate Putman (NCSt) 17:04.3; 9. Adelyn Fairley (Lib) 17:04.6; 10. *Kayla Werner (Lynchb) 17:07.6; 11. ***Angelina Napoleon (NCSt) 17:10.8.
Gans Creek Classic — Stanford Wins Two
Columbia, Missouri, September 27 — Stanford squads led the day. Ricardo Santos’s Cardinal men scored 31 to the Tennessee’s 163 with J.J. Clark’s women 44–92 winners over their Vol opponents.
Edward Bird of Kentucky was men’s winner with Leo Young and Cole…
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