Men's team to compete at regional race

Friday, November 12

Sacramento, Calif.

12 p.m.

Grand Canyon

NCAA West Regional Championship

Photo by: Sam Kuzminski

11/11/2021 9:30:00 AM | Cross Country

Lopes travel to Sacramento for biggest race yet

By: Sam Kuzminski

Friday, Nov. 12 | Sacramento, Calif.

GRAND CANYON
LOPES

NCAA West Regionals
Host: Sacramento State

Men's race: Noon (Phoenix time) | Follow GCU cross country: @GCU_TrackXC

The Grand Canyon men's cross country team will compete at the NCAA West Regionals on Friday morning at the Haggin Oaks Golf Complex.

This will be the men's first regionals appearance since 2018. Seniors Blake Bennett and Christian Fagerlin are the only current Lopes who have experience competing at regionals.

After a successful conference meet two weeks ago, GCU senior Blake Bennett was the top finisher for the Lopes setting a personal best in the 8,000-meter race with a time of 24 minutes, 26.4 seconds to finish 15th overall.

Redshirt junior Jacob Lewis is also on the radar to have a stellar performance on Friday. After not completing the conference race because of an ankle problem, Lewis is ready to go for regionals. In the race before conference, Lewis set the school record in the 8,000-meter race at the Highlander Invitational and finished third overall.

While on the team in 2018, junior Landon Rast did not compete at regionals when the team attended. This season, Rast has been a top competitor for the Lopes, as he finished 22nd at conference with a time of 24:44.2. He also was the first Lope to cross the finish line at the first race of the season in the George Kyte Classic in sixth place.

Redshirt freshman Cannon Angotti has made big strides this season, running a personal best at the Highlander Invitational with a time of 24:24.8. He was the third Lope to finish, and placed 17th overall.

Another redshirt freshman, Braedon Palmer, will compete at regionals after a healthy season of running in all four meets. Palmer had his top performance of the season at the Highlander Invitational, as he set a personal best of 24:19.6, which broke the 8,000-meter freshman record. He placed ninth overall.

Redshirt freshman Joseph Skoog has something to prove after coming off a personal-best performance at conference with a time of 24:51.3. Skoog has set both of his personal-best times at conference meets, implying he can thrive under pressure.

Fagerlin last competed at the Highlander Invitational, where he also set a personal best of 25:15.1. After a long break from racing, Fagerlin will bring the experience and expertise for the team as one of two runners who competed at regionals previously.

Follow the team's results here.