Mengich Wins 8k, Arizona Men Take Team Title at Highlander Invitational

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Arizona Cross Country wrapped up their regular season on Saturday morning at the Highlander Invitational. At the competition, Gideon Mengich won the men’s individual 8k with a personal best time of 23:42.8 and the Arizona Men won the team competition with a score of 65 points. The Arizona Women finished third and were led by Molly Lakustiak, who finished first for the team and fourth overall. The meet was hosted by UC Riverside at the UCR Agricultural Operations Course.
 
Gideon Mengich led the men’s team as he has all regular season, clocking a personal best time of 23:42.8 to win the men’s 8k. He has finished first for the team in all of their competitions so far this year. It is his first career individual win as a Wildcat. Ian Sanchez Lopez and Michael Urbanski finished behind Mengich, with the pair both placing in the top eight. Sanchez Lopez finished fourth overall with a time of 24:10.0 and Urbanski placed eighth overall with a time of 24:17.2. Cooper Quigley was the team’s fourth runner, placing 23rd overall. Newcomer Connor Grusendorf was the team’s fifth runner in his season debut. Mateo Pimienta clocked an 8k personal best time as well for the Wildcats.
 
On the women’s side, Molly Lakustiak finished first for the team and fourth overall with a personal best time in the 6k of 20:48.0. It is the second time this season that she has been the team’s top finisher. Freshman Brooklyn Hanania finished second for the team and 15th overall, clocking a huge personal best time of 21:22.8. Hanania lowered her personal best by over a minute and moved up eight spots in the final 2k of the race. Laina Friedmann (21:58.1) and Alisa Lyesina (22:05.2) finished third and fourth for the team. The team’s fifth runner was Kara Mickelson, who shaved over 30 seconds off her 6k personal best time. Laura Holánszky also clocked a 6k personal best time at the competition.
 
Overall, the Arizona Men won the Highlander Invitational with a team score of 65 points. It is the team’s first overall win of the season and their lowest point total of the season. The Arizona Women placed third overall with a score of 122 points. It is their third top three team finish of the season.
 
UP NEXT
This competition concludes the Wildcats’ regular season. Up next for the team are the Big 12 Championships, which…