SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Oct. 3 - SUU men's and women's cross country teams raced at the Notre Dame Invitational this weekend. The men's team recorded a solid sixth-place finish out of 24 teams. The SUU men placed ahead of nationally ranked teams NC State, Tulsa, and Princeton, who, according to the USTFCCCA Coaches Poll, were all ranked ahead of Southern Utah in the national rankings. The women also recorded solid finishes placing 12th out of 27 teams.

"This is the best showing we've ever had at Notre Dame with the men's team," head coach Eric Houle said. "Our next step is to focus on the conference, regional, and national championships."

Nate Jewkes led the men's squad with a seventh-place finish in the men's 5-mile race with a time of 23:30, placing him first in the SUU all time records for the Notre Dame course. He was followed by Hayden Hawks (23:47) and Mike Tate (24:05) placing 22nd and 42nd overall.  Clinton Rhoton (24:17) and Ibrahim Ahmed (24:24) rounded out the men's score of 209 with 60th and 79th-place finishes. Istvan Szogi (24:28) and Dylan Marx (24:49) wrapped up the men's team placing 90th and 131st. 

The women's team was led by Ashley Hawks earning a second-place overall finish with a time of 16:48 only two seconds behind the lead runner. Josie Brandow (17:49) and Aubrey Bryson (17:55) followed finishing closely together with 53rd and 59th-place finishes. The team's score was rounded out by Ashley Tyndall (18:12) and Angie Nickerson (18:27) earning 90th and 114th-place finishes. Regan Pond (19:22) wrapped up the women's team with a 176th place finish. 

"This year we had a great improvement in performances compared to last year," Houle continued. "The gap between our runners is closing and we came in and accomplished what we wanted to."

The Thunderbirds now prepare to host the annual Color Country Invite on Friday, Oct. 10th in Cedar City, Utah.