Evergreen State College opened its cross-country account this season with favorable results.
On Saturday morning, August 31, they competed in and braved the hot weather at the 2024 University of Puget Sound Invitational at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood, WA.
The Geoducks men’s team finished 5th overall with a cumulative rank score of 129 points from five participating runners.
In contrast, the women’s team was just one runner short of a possible podium finish in the overall team results in the cross country 5-kilometer (5K) run, as per results reflected in the Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) website.
Leading the pack for the men’s team was sophomore Max Baeder, who placed ninth out of 63 runners with a time of 16:27, or a blistering pace of around 3:17/kilometer or 5:17/mile. He was joined by fellow Geoduck and freshman Luis Esquivel, who took 31st place at 17:37.
Junior runners Cooper Osborn and Harlan Estrada finished close with 18:06 and 18:09, placing 42nd and 43rd, respectively, while Osvaldo Calderon placed 49th with a time of 18:57. Geoduck track and field runner Mark Tiersma also joined the race and finished 14th with a time of 16:44, although his performance was not included as part of the Evergreen record.
The Geoduck women’s cross country team was paced by junior Mara Schwenneker, who placed 22nd out of 55 runners after completing the 5-kilometer course in 22:11, an average pace of 4:26 per kilometer or a 7:08 mile.
Other Greeners who participated in the women’s 5k include Maddie Morgan, finishing 46th with a time of 26:34, Olivia Pare at rank 50 with a time of 28:39, and Nadya Miller, finishing 55th after finishing at 38:30.
Winning the men’s individual title was South Puget University’s Ben Kerr after finishing the course in 15:33. Northwest University won the men’s team category with 41 points .
Meanwhile, Clark College’s Mia Beightol finished as the women’s individual champion after registering a time of 19:55. Hosts Puget Sound won the team category with 29 points.
"The first meet of the season always has its unexpected challenges after summer break away from racing," Evergreen Assistant Cross Country Coach Katie Burnett commented. "The way the team ran today will set them up well for later in the season."
The Geoduck Cross Country teams are expected to continue competing as the season kicks off, with their next event at the Green Gator Invitational, hosted by Green River College. That race takes place at the same venue, Fort Steilacoom Park, on September 14.
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