Cross Country Impresses In Opener

Saturday, September 19

Terre Haute, Ind.

5:30 AM

University of Washington

John McNichols Invitational

September 19, 2026 | Cross Country

Complete Results on TFRRS

By: UW Athletic Communications

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Both Husky cross country squads had impressive season debuts today on the course where they hope to be racing again in two months' time. The Husky men's team upset a whopping 12 ranked squads to finish third and the 22nd-ranked women's team finished sixth with an almost entirely new team at the John McNichols Invitational hosted by Indiana State.

Running on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course that will host the NCAA Championships in mid-November, the Huskies made an early season statement on the men's side and turned in a strong pack run with a women's team that featured nine new faces.

The men's team came in unranked, but went out aggressively, running in second-place at the 3k split, and UW would drop no farther than third the rest of the way. Ninth-ranked BYU took the win with 71 points, followed by No. 21 Florida with 119, then the Huskies with 190 points.

The men picked up key early season wins over No. 7 Northern Arizona, No. 10 Wisconsin, No. 11 Washington State, No. 12 Eastern Kentucky, No. 16 Butler, No. 17 Michigan State, No. 19 Harvard, No. 20 Georgia, No. 23 Air Force, No. 24 Cal Baptist, No. 26 Louisville, and No. 27 Stanford.

The women's team placed sixth behind five top-25 teams, and finished one spot ahead of 28th-ranked Boston College. The Huskies scored 176 points as No. 8 Northern Arizona won with 61, followed by No. 20 Utah, No. 21 Washington State, No. 25 Toledo, and No. 14 Florida. The Huskies also outpaced squads from Michigan State, Louisville, Indiana, Georgia, Air Force, Harvard, Wisconsin and Purdue among others.

Leading the women was first-year Abigail Hennessy, as she crossed the 6k course in 20:48 to finish 30th overall. Transfer Nicole Bissell was 33rd just a second back in 20:49. Just five seconds later, the Huskies quickly wrapped up their scoring five, as first-year Elena Aldrink was 36th in 20:54, then fifth-year Josephine Welin was 38th in 20:56, and first-year Sherry Drury was right next to Welin in 39th, also in 20:56. The Dawgs also had first-year Charlotte Hopkins take 53rd in 21:11, transfer Rory Clare was 59th in 21:20, and first-year Lauren McCalla was 98th in 21:52. First-year Eva Cragnolino finished 188th and first-year Sophie Schoolmeester ran in the open race and placed 26th.

Women's Director Maurica Powell was excited with the first run from so many new Dawgs. "The women ran great this morning," said Powell. "We had six newcomers in our top-seven, and four of them are 18-year-old freshmen in their first collegiate race. Abigail Hennessy was outstanding in her debut off a short build-up this summer, and I loved the toughness of Elena Aldrink, Sherry Drury and Charlotte Hopkins in their first collegiate race. Nicole Bissell, Josie Welin, and Rory Clare opened up with their best ever performances. This group will add a few more pieces in three weeks and I can't wait to get back to work and see how good we can be in November."

The men were led by fourth-year Tyrone Gorze in 13th-place overall in an even 24-minutes for the 8,000-meter course. After Gorze, the Husky 2-5 runners all came in within five seconds of each other in the 41-49 spots. Josiah Tostenson had his best cross country race to open his second season, placing 41st in 24:24. Third-year Nathan Neil was 43rd and fifth-year Jamar Distel was 44th as both ran 24:25. Fourth-year Isaac Briggs clocked 24:29 for 49th-place to cap the scoring. UW and BYU were the only teams with their No. 5 runner inside the top-50.

Transfer Theo Schucht was the only newcomer in the Husky lineup today, and he was 56th overall in 24:32. Third-year Parker Mong was 83rd in 24:46, as the full Husky seven finished in the top-100.

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