Skoog, Judd pace Lopes at NCAA West Regionals

Friday, November 11

Seattle, Wash.

11 a.m. (Phoenix time)

Grand Canyon

NCAA West Regional

Photo by: Hannah Hatton/SFA

11/11/2022 6:18:00 PM | Cross Country

Lopes end season on high note with personal bests

By: Josh Hauser

UNIVERSITY PARK, Wash. — The Grand Canyon cross country teams wrapped their seasons at the NCAA West Regionals on Friday afternoon, with the Lopes ending the season on a high note with some personal bests.

"Really proud of all of our Lopes today," said Paul Limpf, who concludes his first season in charge of GCU's cross country program. "You always want to end the year on a high note and the men and women capped off an incredible year with more top-notch performances."

GCU had 10 runners (seven women, three men) competing at the event held at Chambers Creek Regional Park.

All three runners on the men's side logged personal bests. Washington native Joseph Skoog once again paced the Lopes with a mark of 29 minutes, 31.5 seconds to place the sophomore 47th among over 200 runners. Graduates Blake Bennett (30:09.5) and Christian Fagerlin (30:49.7) also recorded personal bests.

"All three men left with massive personal bests," Limpf said. "All three of our men ran under the previous school record for the cross country 10k. Skoog ran a gutsy race and led the way once again. He was attempting to qualify for the NCAA Championships and left it all on the course. His time of 29:31.5 is a two-minute best. Bennett capped off a great GCU career by running a two-minute best. Fagerlin's GCU cross country career ended with a 2.5-minute best."

Among the seven women's runners, graduate Jodie Judd led GCU after clocking in at 20:31.0 for 67th place. She was followed by junior Katie Hooten (21:00.1), senior Kendall Drisko (21:11.9) and sophomore Stefana Purkovic (21:17.0).

"Our women also had an incredible day loaded with personal bests," Limpf said. "Judd led the way with a season best. She put herself in a position to qualify for the national meet. Hooten ran just off her personal best but capped off a season to be proud of. Behind them, Drisko and Purkovic had personal bests to end their season. Halle Jenkins had one of her best races of the season to close out the scoring for the Lopes. Brooke Skoog had a personal best as well. Becca Taylor battled through some illness and capped off a solid season."

GCU returns home with eyes set on a rapidly approaching indoor track and field season, set to begin in early December.

"Overall, this was a very successful season for both of our squads," Limpf said. "I couldn't be more proud of how both teams adapted and have set us up for the future."