Trailblazers Cross Country set several new PRs at Live in Lou Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Vincennes University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams competed in a packed field at Tom Sawyer State Park for the annual Live in Lou Cross Country Classic Saturday afternoon.

The VU men's team competed in a field of 412 runners from 59 different schools and 45 teams.

The Trailblazers men's team got the day started with their 8k race and were paced by sophomore Mathew Keitany (Kenya) who finished with a time of 26:15.2.

Freshman Isaac Stanford (Flora, Ill.) and sophomore Ernest Momodu (Indianapolis, Ind.) were the next VU runners across the line with Stanford finishing at 26:48.1 and Momodu crossing at 27:04.0.

Sophomores Reed Lawless (Kouts, Ind.) and Ian Boit (Kimilili, Kenya) finished at 27:39.9 for Lawless and 28:37.0 for Boit.

Sophomore Trenton Faulkner (Wheatland, Ind.) and freshman Sol O'Blenis (Amboy, Ind.) both crossed the line under the 30-minute mark with Faulkner ending at 28:50.9 and O'Blenis finishing at 29:25.5.

The VU men's team was rounded out Saturday by freshmen Matthew Gray (Washington, Ind.) and Griffin Worzella (Martinsville, Ind.) with Gray finishing with a time of 30:01.6 and Worzella ending at 30:42.1.

Vincennes' men's team placed 20th out of a tough group of 45 qualifying teams, including placing ahead of NCAA Division I programs Evansville and Tennessee State University.

"The men started off the meet with a good performance," VU Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "Five of the nine runners had PRs and two more had their best time of the season."

"Mathew and Isaac did a great job of leading the team, with Mathew having a very strong last two miles," Steigenga added. "Ernest and Reed both ran PRs to finish third and fourth. Ian ran well after dealing with an injury the last four weeks. I think he is turning a corner with his fitness, so hopefully he will continue to improve now that he's back running pain free."

"Right behind Ian, Trenton ran his best race of the year," Steigenga said. "Overall, it was a good race as we finished in the top half of the team standings. Getting someone to close the gap to Reed will be important in the next few meets. Having them too far back really hurts us when we race in this big of a field."

The VU women's team was led across the line by sophomore Daisie Kinnett (Wheatland, Ind.) who finished with a time of 20:34.5 in the women's 5k race.

Sophomore Brittany Page (Freelandville, Ind.) and freshman Ada Peterman (Clay, Ill.) followed close behind with Page finishing at 21:17.2 and Peterman ending at 21:59.1.

Freshman Makenna Pruett (Montgomery, Ind.)  finished out the day for Vincennes with a time of 23:17.5.

"For the women, Makenna and Brittany both ran season bests," Steigenga said. "Makenna ran great today. She had a rough race two weeks ago after being sick, but she came back stronger and ran tough to finish her best race of the year."

The VU Cross Country teams will now begin preparing for their final tune-up meet ahead of the NJCAA Regionals with the Bradley Pink Classic in Peoria, Ill. on Friday, Oct. 14.

TEAM RESULTS

MEN'S – 20th

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

MEN'S

Mathew Keitany (33) – 26:15.2

Isaac Stanford (70) – 26:48.1

Ernest Momodu (85) – 27:04.0

Reed Lawless (148) – 27:39.9

Ian Boit (229) – 28:37.0

Trenton Faulkner (248) – 28:50.9

Sol O'Blenis (289) – 29:25.5

Matthew Gray (314) – 30:01.6

Griffin Worzella (335) – 30:42.1

WOMEN'S

Daisie Kinnett (81) – 20:34.5

Brittany Page (138) – 21:17.2

Ada Peterman (196) – 21:59.1

Makenna Pruett (279) – 23:17.5