LAS VEGAS -- The Thunderbird men's and women's cross country teams competed in their final tuneup before the 2021 Big Sky Cross Country Winter Championships on Friday, as they ran in the Battle Born Collegiate Cross Country Challenge. The men's team finished in fourth place at the event, while the women's team finished in 10th place.
Stefen Rasmuson was the top finisher for the Thunderbirds in the field, running the course in 23:34.1. That put him in 15th place overall. Closely behind him, Nate Osterstock (23:38.7) and Aidan Reed (23:41.0) finished in 19th and 20th respectively.
Finishing in 26th was Santiago Gaitan, who ran a time of 23:51.0. Travis Feeny rounded out the top-five for Southern Utah, finishing in 32nd place with a 23:59.5.
Closing out the scoring lineup, Isaiah Labra took 46th place with a 24:21.5 and Christian Ricketts finished in 50th with a 24:27.2.
The Thunderbird men's squad finished in fourth with 111 points, finishing ahead of Boise State, California Baptist and No. 25 Colorado State.
Northern Arizona, who is currently ranked as the No. 2 team in the country, won the event on the men's side with a score of 20. The No. 5 ranked Stanford Cardinal finished in second, with No. 10 Colorado finishing in third.
On the women's side, Alison Pray showed once again that she's one of the best in the nation, as she finished in 11th place with a time of 20:07.9.
Raquel Chavez finished second for SUU with a 21:13.2, which put her in 57th place. Closely behind Chavez, Haley Tanne ran a 21:13.4 to finish in 59th place.
Julieta Navarrete-Lamas was the next T-Bird to cross the line, finishing in 76th with a 21:37.8. Madison Fruchey finished in 83rd with a 21:45.8.
Southern Utah finished with 258 points in the meet to finish in 10th place.
The No. 4 ranked New Mexico Lobos won the event on the women's side with 60 points. The No. 6 ranked Stanford Cardinal took second with 85 points, and the No. 16 ranked Lumberjacks of NAU finished in third.
Next up on the schedule for the Thunderbirds will be the 2021 Big Sky Cross Country Winter Championships. They are scheduled to run next Saturday, February 27, in Riverdale, Utah.
Stay current on the Thunderbird track and field programs by following @SUUTFXC on Twitter and Instagram and like the Southern Utah Track and XC page on Facebook.
Head to www.suutbirds.com for all Thunderbird athletics news.
