SOUTH BEND, Ind. (October 4, 2019) – The Wyoming cross country teams had a solid performance this Friday at the Notre Dame-hosted Joe Piane Invitational. The Cowboys went up against 11 nationally-ranked programs, while the Cowgirls put together a few weeks of good training with a solid finish in their group.
 
The No. 18 Cowboys placed 13^th overall as a team with 287 points following the five-mile race, and were led by senior Paul Roberts, who had a five-mile time of 23:57.06 to finish 25^th overall. Seniors Harry Ewing and Christopher Henry each placed in the top-50, as Ewing finished 31^st with a time of 24:02.83 and Henry was 40^th with a time of 24:09.92.
 
"We knew the race was going to be very competitive," said head cross country coach Scott Dahlberg. "As a group, we started out too far back and waited too long to make moves up in the race. We spent a lot of enrgy trying to catch up, and in a large field of that quality, it's a tough task. Fitness-wise, we know we're in good shape, we just need to outlet it more efficiently."
 
Rounding out UW's top-five scorers, senior Daniel Hintz was 81^st with a time of 24:32.32, while junior Jerald Taylor placed 112^th in 24:53.16. Also competing, were a trio of redshirt freshmen in Albert Steiner, Blake Hubert and Philip Henry. Steiner finished 116^th in 24:59.23, Hubert was 137^th in 25:22.31 and Philip Henry placed 140^th in 25:23.78.
 
The No. 4-ranked Colorado squad took the team win with 71 points, while No. 14 Ole Miss took second with 107 points.
 
For the Cowgirls, they placed fourth in a field of 25 in the five-kilometer Gold Division with 164 points. Leading the way for UW was senior Kacey Doner, who placed ninth in 17:22.44, which is the second-best five-kilometer time in known Cowgirl cross country history. Doner's time trails only Holly Page's 2013 time of 17:18 at the Highlander Invite. Sophomore Katelyn Mitchem also finished in the top-10 with a time of 17:23.56 to place 10^th. Her time is fourth in Cowgirl history at this distance.
 
"The women did a great job of keying off each other and working through the race," Dahlberg said. "We had a lot of personal bests for the distance, and we're happy with the team placing. We're putting some good weeks together, and they showed it today."
 
Sophomore Kaylee Bentley turned in a time of 17:44.03, which is ninth-best in the program's history. Helping to keep UW's score low, sophomore Jasmyne Cooper placed 55^th with a time of 18:08.43, and sophomore Addi Iken placed 64^th in 18:13.78.
 
The team win went to Cal State Fullerton with 131 points, while Miami (Ohio) was second with 136 points.
 
The Cowboys return to action on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Wisconsin-hosted Nuttycombe Invitational, while the Cowgirls are next competing at the Santa Clara Bronco Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19.
 
Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational
South Bend, Ind. | Burke Golf Course
October 4, 2019
 
Men's Blue Division (5 miles)
Team
13. Wyoming – 287 points
 
Individual
25. Paul Roberts – 23:57.06
31. Harry Ewing – 24:02.83
40. Christopher Henry – 24:09.92
81. Daniel Hintz – 24:32.32
112. Jerald Taylor – 24:53.16
116. Albert Steiner – 24:59.23
137. Blake Hubert – 25:22.31
140. Philip Henry – 25:23.78
 
Men's Open Race (5 miles)
44. Tom Moulai – 25:48.70
76. Will Persin – 26:59.93
 
Women's Gold Division (5 kilometers)
Team
4. Wyoming – 164 points
 
Individual
9. Kacey Doner – 17:22.44
10. Katelyn Mitchem – 17:23.56
26. Kaylee Bentley – 17:44.03
55. Jasmyne Cooper – 18:08.43
64. Addi Iken – 18:13.78
72. Kaleigh Douglass – 18:17.03
128. Victoria Tenpenny – 19:00.26
140. McKenzi Davison – 19:05.95
 
Women's Open Race (5 kilometers)
86. Michelle Renner – 19:20.37