TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Purdue cross country team registered a pair of third-place finishes at the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Saturday morning.
Sophomore Nathan Walker led the Boilermaker men and junior Payne Turney paced the women. Both squads finished third in the overall team standings at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
The Purdue men had 70 points and the women recorded 102 points. Illinois won both team competitions, with 26 and 51 women's men's points, respectively, and Toledo earned both second-place finishes. Nineteen men's teams and 18 women's programs raced in the event, which included host-Indiana State, Louisville and Missouri.
"It was a solid effort from the group," Purdue coach John Oliver said. "On the men's side, we went out assertively and, over the last kilometer, we lost a few spots that hurt our team placing. There was still lots of growth from this group of guys from a year ago. We're going to go back to work to get that last kilometer, but I am excited by the progress they are making.
"The women went and competed tough. They kept their head up in the middle of the race and formed a few groups that worked well together. They are a strong group that is excited to get back out and race again, taking what they learned today."
On the 8k men's course, Walker was seventh overall in 24:37.1. Fellow sophomore Brady Yoder finished 12th in 24:47.3, while senior Andrew Brandt was 15th with a time of 24:57.7. In 18th place was junior Caleb Williams, in 25:08.0, followed by sophomore Jason Polydoris, in 22nd in 25:15.1. Junior Geno Christofanelli crossed the finish line 25th overall in 25:17.3. Senior Bryce Hutchinson also earned points for the Boilermakers and was 31st in 25:23.7.
For the women, Turney led the way in the 5k with a 12th-place finish in 17:54.9. Senior Emma Tate was right behind her in 15th, in 18:03.9, and sophomore Emma Squires finished 19th thanks to a time of 18:11.7. Freshman Katherine Rumsey was 28th in 18:26.3, while sophomore Lauren Bales placed 24th in 18:32.0. Senior Ellie Tate, in 38th in 18:38.3, and junior Caroline Jordan, in 40th place with a time of 18:40.0, rounded out the Boilermakers' point scorers.
Also for the Purdue men, junior Joey Kasch was 37th (25:31.3), junior Alex Frey placed 45th (25:38.9) and senior John Pieper was 46th in 25:39.1. Senior Ian Shaw finished 56th (25:50.9) and senior Ian Hunter was 71st (26:04.9).
For the women, junior Katelyn Wasson finished in 48th place (18:54.1), freshman Sarah Maggio was 75th (19:24.5) and freshman Christel Elkins was 76th (19:26.0). Senior Emma Keesling placed 108th (20:20.9), sophomore Sarah Busch was 112th (20:28.8), sophomore Jaelyn Burgos was 127th (21:06.2) and junior Gabriele Green was 128th (21:11.3).
Saturday was the first of two trips to the Lavern Gibson course in 2022, as the Boilermakers also will race there on November 11 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
Up next, Purdue remains in the state of Indiana for a third consecutive meet when the squad travels to Notre Dame for the Joe Piane Invitational on September 30.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Sophomore Nathan Walker led the Boilermaker men and junior Payne Turney paced the women. Both squads finished third in the overall team standings at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course.
The Purdue men had 70 points and the women recorded 102 points. Illinois won both team competitions, with 26 and 51 women's men's points, respectively, and Toledo earned both second-place finishes. Nineteen men's teams and 18 women's programs raced in the event, which included host-Indiana State, Louisville and Missouri.
"It was a solid effort from the group," Purdue coach John Oliver said. "On the men's side, we went out assertively and, over the last kilometer, we lost a few spots that hurt our team placing. There was still lots of growth from this group of guys from a year ago. We're going to go back to work to get that last kilometer, but I am excited by the progress they are making.
"The women went and competed tough. They kept their head up in the middle of the race and formed a few groups that worked well together. They are a strong group that is excited to get back out and race again, taking what they learned today."
On the 8k men's course, Walker was seventh overall in 24:37.1. Fellow sophomore Brady Yoder finished 12th in 24:47.3, while senior Andrew Brandt was 15th with a time of 24:57.7. In 18th place was junior Caleb Williams, in 25:08.0, followed by sophomore Jason Polydoris, in 22nd in 25:15.1. Junior Geno Christofanelli crossed the finish line 25th overall in 25:17.3. Senior Bryce Hutchinson also earned points for the Boilermakers and was 31st in 25:23.7.
For the women, Turney led the way in the 5k with a 12th-place finish in 17:54.9. Senior Emma Tate was right behind her in 15th, in 18:03.9, and sophomore Emma Squires finished 19th thanks to a time of 18:11.7. Freshman Katherine Rumsey was 28th in 18:26.3, while sophomore Lauren Bales placed 24th in 18:32.0. Senior Ellie Tate, in 38th in 18:38.3, and junior Caroline Jordan, in 40th place with a time of 18:40.0, rounded out the Boilermakers' point scorers.
Also for the Purdue men, junior Joey Kasch was 37th (25:31.3), junior Alex Frey placed 45th (25:38.9) and senior John Pieper was 46th in 25:39.1. Senior Ian Shaw finished 56th (25:50.9) and senior Ian Hunter was 71st (26:04.9).
For the women, junior Katelyn Wasson finished in 48th place (18:54.1), freshman Sarah Maggio was 75th (19:24.5) and freshman Christel Elkins was 76th (19:26.0). Senior Emma Keesling placed 108th (20:20.9), sophomore Sarah Busch was 112th (20:28.8), sophomore Jaelyn Burgos was 127th (21:06.2) and junior Gabriele Green was 128th (21:11.3).
Saturday was the first of two trips to the Lavern Gibson course in 2022, as the Boilermakers also will race there on November 11 at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
Up next, Purdue remains in the state of Indiana for a third consecutive meet when the squad travels to Notre Dame for the Joe Piane Invitational on September 30.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.