Buffs Dominate Colorado State Invitational

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The Colorado cross country teams dominated the Colorado State Invitational on Friday night. The men's team took six out of the top 10 positions and had an additional three runners racing unattached who also finished in the top 10 of the 5-kilometer race, while the women had two uniformed harriers and another five unattached athletes finish in the top 10 of their 5k run.

THE MEN'S RACE: Sophomore Ryan Forsyth led the CU men with a 14 minute, 58 second finish for his first collegiate victory. Forsyth was one second in front of the runner-up and two seconds in front of a trio of Buffaloes who finished the race in 15:00. Junior Zach Perrin was the first of those three to cross the finish and was followed by redshirt freshman Joe Klecker and junior Adam Peterman.

Senior Ben Saarel was racing unattached, but had a strong sixth place finish (15:01) in front of sophomore Ethan Gonzales (15:01, seventh place). Another Buff not in uniform was sophomore John Dressel, who clocked in at 15:01 for eighth overall. Freshman Eduardo Herrera was the fastest true freshman for the Buffs, finishing ninth (15:01), but he too, like Saarel and Dressel, was not in uniform. Junior Christian Martin rounded out the top 10 at the meet, recording a time of 15:09.

THE WOMEN'S RACE: The women's team placed two uniformed runners in the top 10, but also had a strong showing with five unattached athletes finishing in the top 10. Senior Carrie Verdon was the top uniformed athlete for the women, crossing the finish third overall in 17:36. Sophomore Mackenzie Caldwell was the next Buff in uniform to finish, placing seventh with a time of 17:36.

The second place overall finisher at the meet was CU freshman Sage Hurta (not in uniform), who completed the race in 17:35. She finished just slightly ahead of a pair of CU All-Americans, junior Kaitlyn Benner and senior Erin Clark, who were also racing unattached. Benner was fourth (17:36), while Clark was fifth (17:36).

Two more unattached CU runners earned top 10 finishes. Sophomore Dani Jones was sixth (17:36) and sophomore Makena Morley was eighth overall in 17:37.

NOTEABLE: The women's team is currently ranked second in the USTFCCCA Preseason Poll, while the men are ranked fifth. Both teams are ranked second in the NCAA Mountain Region.

NEXT UP: The Buffs are off until Oct. 1, when they host the Rocky Mountain Shootout in Boulder.

AGATE:
Colorado State Invitational
Fort Collins, Colo.

Women's 5k Results
3. Carrie Verdon, 17:36; 7. Mackenzie Caldwell, 17:36; 12. Eryn Blakely, 17:59; 21. Lucy May, 18:30; 25. Melanie Nun, 18:37; 30. Karina Mann, 18:55

Unattached CU Runners
2. Sage Hurta, 17:35; 4. Kaitlyn Benner, 17:36; 5. Erin Clark, 17:36; 6. Dani Jones, 17:36; 8. Makena Morley, 17:37; 13. Madison Boreman, 18:05; 15. Tabor Scholl, 18:14

Men's 5k Results
1. Ryan Forsyth, 14:58; 3. Zach Perrin, 15:00; 4. Joe Klecker, 15:00; 5. Adam Peterman, 15:00; 7. Ethan Gonzales, 15:01; 10. Christian Martin, 15:09; 18. Paul Miller, 15:18; 23. Nick Harris, 15:24; 25. Chris Herrick, 15:24; 32. Reilly Friedman, 15:32; 44. Justice Ramos, 15:41; 55. Luke Sheesley, 15:53

Unattached CU Runners
6. Ben Saarel, 15:01; 8. John Dressel, 15:01; 9. Eduardo Herrera, 15:07; 11. Jared Borowsky, 15:12; 26. Phillip Rocha, 15:25; 31. Paxton Smith, 15:30; 35. Connor Dunne, 15:34; 62. Sal Capetillo, 15:58

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Kaitlyn Benner

Eryn Blakely

Jared Borowsky

Mackenzie Caldwell

Sal Capetillo

Erin Clark

John Dressel

Connor Dunne

Ryan Forsyth

Reilly Friedman

Ethan Gonzales

Nick Harris

Eduardo Herrera

Sage Hurta

Dani Jones

Joe Klecker

Karina Mann

Christian Martin

Lucy May

Paul Miller

Makena Morley

Melanie Nun

Adam Peterman

Justice Ramos

Phillip Rocha

Ben Saarel

Tabor Scholl

Paxton Smith

Carrie Verdon