Hall sets pace for Lopes with top GCU finish

Friday, October 1

Tucson, Ariz.

7:00 AM

Grand Canyon

Dave Murray Invitational

Photo by: Sam Kuzminski

10/1/2021 8:05:00 AM | Cross Country

Women's squad completes Dave Murray Invitational

By: Sam Kuzminski

Friday, Oct. 1 | Tucson, Arizona | Dave Murray Invitational

Women's team

Team finish: 5th of 5
GCU top individual: Hana Hall (freshman), ninth of 40

Follow GCU cross country: @GCU_TrackXC

The Grand Canyon women's cross country team raced Friday at the Dave Murray Invitational in Tucson, Arizona, for their second competition on back-to-back weekends.

"Today was a big step in the right direction for our girls," GCU head coach Sara Slattery said. "Our team is very young, so we are missing a lot of racing experience from COVID. Being at Roy Griak last week, it was one of the biggest meets our girls had ever ran at, which can be overwhelming. This meet was a lot better environment. They ran better as a pack and their effort was better."

Redshirt freshman Hana Hall crossed the finish line first for the Lopes, yet again. She ran the 6,000 meter race in 21 minutes, 58:05 seconds and placed ninth overall. Hall has been a top GCU finisher for every race this season after only competing at the conference championships during her true freshman year due to the shortened season with COVID-19.

"Hana led the way," said Slattery. "There was a pack right behind her to push her with Nikki, Emma (Summers), and Ana Avarez Tostado)."

Finishing second for the Lopes was redshirt freshman Nkiki Hemmerlin, who placed 18th with a time of 22:21.6. Hemmerlin placed second for the Lopes for the second consecutive week.

The women's squad scored a total of 100 points with an overall team time of 1:52.45.

Alvarez Tostado, a senior, placed behind Hemmerlin in 21st place with a time of 22:29.9. Alvarez Tostado was the only current women's team member to have ran at the Dave Murray Invitational before.

Fighting their way to the finish were Summers, a freshman, and Halle Jenkins, a redshirt freshman. Summers worked with her teammates throughout the race and finished in 22:36.1 and 24th place. Sprinting to the finish, Jenkins took 30th place with a time of 23:18.7.

Running a personal best, redshirt freshman Anna Skoog ran one of her best races with a time of 23:59.4.

"I was really proud of Anna, as she ran one of her best races," Slattery said. "This was a big step in the right direction for the team, and it was a positive race day for everyone. These girls are just going to get better as the season goes on."

The Lopes will compete with the men's and women's teams in Riverside, California, at the Oct. 16 Highland Invitational. It will be the last meet before GCU races at the WAC Championships.