Friday, October 13
Ashland, Neb. (Olsson XC Course at Mahoney State Park)
1:45 PM
Creighton University
vs
Platte River Rumble
Danielle Hotalling
Photo by: Justin Kreutzian
Men's Cross Country Wins Platte River Rumble; Women Third
10/13/2023 4:42:00 PM | Men's Cross Country / Track, Women's Cross Country / Track
Marcos Gonzalez and Danielle Hotalling pace the Bluejays
ASHLAND, Neb. -- Fourth-place finishes by seniors Marcos Gonzalez and Danielle Hotalling led the Creighton men's and women's cross country teams to first and third place, respectively, at the Platte River Rumble on Friday afternoon in Ashland, Neb. The victory was the first team title by the men in a Division I Invitational since 2007, and made all the more sweeter with it happening in a rare home meet at Olsson XC Course at Mahoney State Park.
Gonzalez took fourth in a race of 136 men, crossing the finish line in 24:40.70 to just miss his personal best in the 8K. Gonzalez was one of three Bluejays in the top 10, as freshman Evan Kraus and Tommy Ward joined him. Kraus finished in 24:51.13 while Ward clocked a 24:53.26 time.
The Bluejay team title was due in large part to its depth. Sophomore Brian Hiltebrand took 15th place in 24:59.90, four seconds ahead of freshman Tommy Murray (25:03.61) who took 16th. That duo was just ahead of Ryan Montera (20th; 25:13.37) and Jake Ziebarth (21st; 25:13.46).
Colby Community College's Kgadi Monyebodi dominated the men's race, winning by 48 seconds with a time of 23:33.72 to outpace runner-up Mohammed Kowa (24:21.49) from Iowa Western. The only school with five top-15 finishers, the Bluejay men won the team title with a team score of 52 to defeat Nebraska (64) and Colby CC (67) in a three-horse race among the 11 teams to compete. Marquette, the only other BIG EAST team in the field, placed fifth with 133 points.
Creighton's women finished third with 76 points, just behind Nebraska (27) and Omaha (67), but ahead of eighth place Marquette (180).
Running for the first time at the Platte River Rumble after redshirting last season, Hotalling placed fourth with a time of 21:18.55 to eclipse her previous 6K best time by nearly 15 seconds and move into the top five of the program's all-time best list. She has now been CU's top performer in all 24 races of her cross country career.
Close behind were Morgan Koca (12th; 22:26.82) and Taylor Rorick (17th; 22:39.81). Katherine Soule earned a 21st place finish with a time of 22:51.22 and Carly Manchester placed 26th in 23:04.40.
Nebraska freshman Berlyn Schutz won the women's race by 17 seconds with a time of 20:47.64, defeating teammate Ali Bainbridge (21:04.16). The women's race featured 11 teams and 118 participants.
Despite heavy rain on Thursday and an increasing drizzle, the Olsson XC Course stayed in great condition and remained one of the best and fastest courses in the Midwest.
Both Bluejay cross country teams are off until the BIG EAST Championships Presented by Jeep on Oct. 28th in Kenosha, Wis.
Gonzalez took fourth in a race of 136 men, crossing the finish line in 24:40.70 to just miss his personal best in the 8K. Gonzalez was one of three Bluejays in the top 10, as freshman Evan Kraus and Tommy Ward joined him. Kraus finished in 24:51.13 while Ward clocked a 24:53.26 time.
The Bluejay team title was due in large part to its depth. Sophomore Brian Hiltebrand took 15th place in 24:59.90, four seconds ahead of freshman Tommy Murray (25:03.61) who took 16th. That duo was just ahead of Ryan Montera (20th; 25:13.37) and Jake Ziebarth (21st; 25:13.46).
Colby Community College's Kgadi Monyebodi dominated the men's race, winning by 48 seconds with a time of 23:33.72 to outpace runner-up Mohammed Kowa (24:21.49) from Iowa Western. The only school with five top-15 finishers, the Bluejay men won the team title with a team score of 52 to defeat Nebraska (64) and Colby CC (67) in a three-horse race among the 11 teams to compete. Marquette, the only other BIG EAST team in the field, placed fifth with 133 points.
Creighton's women finished third with 76 points, just behind Nebraska (27) and Omaha (67), but ahead of eighth place Marquette (180).
Running for the first time at the Platte River Rumble after redshirting last season, Hotalling placed fourth with a time of 21:18.55 to eclipse her previous 6K best time by nearly 15 seconds and move into the top five of the program's all-time best list. She has now been CU's top performer in all 24 races of her cross country career.
Close behind were Morgan Koca (12th; 22:26.82) and Taylor Rorick (17th; 22:39.81). Katherine Soule earned a 21st place finish with a time of 22:51.22 and Carly Manchester placed 26th in 23:04.40.
Nebraska freshman Berlyn Schutz won the women's race by 17 seconds with a time of 20:47.64, defeating teammate Ali Bainbridge (21:04.16). The women's race featured 11 teams and 118 participants.
Despite heavy rain on Thursday and an increasing drizzle, the Olsson XC Course stayed in great condition and remained one of the best and fastest courses in the Midwest.
Both Bluejay cross country teams are off until the BIG EAST Championships Presented by Jeep on Oct. 28th in Kenosha, Wis.
It's getting a little misty around here... pic.twitter.com/AzQhlK4jbj
— Creighton XC & Track (@CreightonXC) October 13, 2023
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Women's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
/ Men's Cross Country / Track
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