Season opener challenged team to success

Saturday, September 4

Flagstaff, Ariz.

1:30 PM

Grand Canyon

George Kyte Classic

Photo by: Sam Kuzminski

9/4/2021 6:42:00 PM | Cross Country

Lopes took on altitude test at race in Flagstaff

By: Sam Kuzminski

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon cross country teams raced at the George Kyle Classic in Flagstaff, Arizona on Saturday afternoon.

After an exciting few days at the Lopes' annual cross country camp, GCU finished their trip off at the meet.

Junior Landon Rast finished on top for the Lopes in sixth place with a time of 23 minutes, 41.5 seconds for the 4.5 mile race. Senior Blake Bennett crossed the finish line shortly after finishing in seventh place with a time of 23:47.6.

"Landon took a big step today and was our top finisher," said head coach Sara Slattery. "He has been putting in big miles this summer in Colorado and progressed well and helped lead our men. Blake looked very strong as well. He missed a lot of time in the track season, but has been working hard and picked right up where he left off in the last cross country season."

The men took second place overall, placing behind Northern Arizona with a score of 52 points and a spread of 1:09 minutes.

"I was really impressed with our spread today," said Slattery. "Roshan Tinoco-Miranda, who is a true freshman, really impressed me today. Not many freshman can step in and make an impact right away. We were also missing two of our top guys, Jacob Lewis and Joseph Skoog. When we add those guys in we will have a very solid crew."

On the women's side, sophomore Hana Hall completed the 2.5 mile race on top for the Lopes in 12th place. She ran the race in 16:44.8.

In her first collegiate race, junior Kendall Drisko was the second Lope to cross the finish line. She placed 14th with a time of 16:53.4.

Running in a pack throughout the race, senior Ana Alvarez Tostado, sophomores Halle Jenkins and Nikki Hemmerlin, and freshman Emma Summers came in 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st place, respectively.

"Hana and Kendall both ran strong races in very hot conditions at altitude," said Slattery. "Ana, Halle, and Nikki all ran really well and keyed off each other. Our spread was tight, and I am proud of the way the women ran. We have a young talented group and they are eager to work hard this season. This was a solid start for our group."

The women had a spread of 58 seconds and scored 68 points, which placed them third.

The teams will have a chance to recover and continue practicing until they compete at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 24th.