Lopes take on 10k challenge at NCAA Regionals

Friday, November 15

Colfax, Wash. / Colfax Golf Course

1 p.m. (MST)

Grand Canyon

NCAA West Regional

11/15/2024 8:14:00 PM | Cross Country

Results

Smith finishes 1st among GCU runners for 3rd time

By: Josh Hauser

COLFAX, Wash. — The Grand Canyon cross country team ended its 2024 season by sending six men's runners to the NCAA West Regionals at Colfax Country Club on Friday.

After running the 8,000-meter distance for the majority of the season, Friday's meet upped the distance to 10,000 meters.

Sophomore Ethan Smith crossed first for the Lopes for the third time this season. After not running in this season's first meet, Smith led GCU at the Dave Murray Invitational on Sept. 28, the Bronco Invitational on Oct. 19 and the NCAA West Regionals. Friday's time of 31 minutes, 41.3 seconds ranked 116th among the 200-plus participants.

GCU finished 25th among 31 participating schools.

"The men fought really hard today," said Shayla Houlihan, completing her first cross country season as GCU's head coach. "They put themselves in the mix early on and ultimately faded out of the top 20. Top 20 would have been a fantastic day for us. We ended up higher than our ranking, which is always the goal when we step on the starting line."

Graduate Emmanuel Corral finished second for the Lopes with a time of 31:47.1 that ranked 125th. Behind Corral was junior Greyson Akers (32:09.8, 141st), a back-to-back finish by sophomore Tristen Coyle and freshman Matt Hamilton (33:01.5 and 33:02.1, respectively, to finish 168th and 169th) and junior Mac Eliason (33:46.5, 189th).

"Every single one of the athletes fought individual battles each step of that 10,000-meter race distance," Houlihan said. "I'm proud of the way they fought together and for each other and the program. This experience is super valuable for this young squad. Moving up to the 10k distance from the 8k can seem very intimidating, but now that they've done it they know what to expect for the future."

With six meets in the books, GCU's cross country season has concluded. The Lopes' runners will turn their attention to the upcoming indoor track and field season, when they will represent the distance portion of the program. The recently released schedule begins on Dec. 14 in Spokane, Washington.