Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
XC | Cross Country Open 2023 Season at USF Invite
8/31/2023 11:00:00 AM | Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Men's Cross Country
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Saint Mary's Cross Country open up their 2023 season on Friday as they'll head to Golden Gate Park for the annual USF Invite.
THE DETAILS
USF Invite
Friday, September 1
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco, Calif.
Women's 6K – 2 PM | Men's 8K – 3:30 PM
Results
NEW FACES
Both the men's and women's side are welcoming new runners to the squad, as each side have 14 newcomers. It's a solid mix of freshman, transfers, and graduate students that are sure to bring new excitement and fast times to the teams as they look forward to the new season.
LAST SEASON
Saint Mary's are coming off another solid season in 2022. In the West Coast Conference, the Gaels snatched 6th on the women's side and 8th on the men's side. Junior Rayna Stanziano had a stellar run per usual, finishing 5th overall.
Her Gaels teammate Molly Dreher got off to a speedy start as well, hanging with Stanziano and the opening pack for the opening minutes of the race. Stanziano held steady in fifth through the halfway point of the race, as Dreher settled into 33th.
The Saint Mary's trio of Emily Field, Sofia Cuevas, and Dani Rowlinson weren't far behind at the halfway point, running 44th, 45th, and 46th respectively.
On the men's side, Blaine Reynolds led the charge for the Gaels, finishing as the fastest Gael in 47th in a time of 24:08.6. Curtis Volf finished just a few seconds back in 50th, crossing the line in a time of 24:16.1.
At the NCAA West Regionals, Rayna Stanziano once again set the track alight, finishing 16th overall in a time of 19:43.6, a personal best by 23 seconds.
Her stellar run is the highest finish ever by a Gael at NCAA West Regionals, and nine spots higher than she finished last season. With her finish, she earned her second consecutive NCAA All-West Region Honors.
It wasn't just Stanziano who shined Friday morning, as her teammates that followed all put in stellar performances as well.
Molly Dreher was next across the line for the Gaels, finishing in 111th in a time of 21:03.0, a personal best by 20 seconds. A full minute and 10 seconds faster than her time at the regionals last year, Dreher's time on Friday moves her into 4th fastest all-time in the Gaels 6K record book.
Sophomore Klara Frih had the biggest time drop of the day, as she eviscerated her previous personal best time by 48 seconds. Frih's 21:19.7 also solidifies her spot on the 6K top-ten list for the Gaels, putting her 8thquickest all-time.
On the men's side, Blaine Reynolds led the way for the men, finishing in 109th for the Gaels in a time of 30:45.3, burying his previous 10K best by over two minutes.
After pacing each other the whole race, Reynolds' teammate Curtis Volf finished just behind in 117th in a time of 30:53.9.
THE DETAILS
USF Invite
Friday, September 1
Golden Gate Park – San Francisco, Calif.
Women's 6K – 2 PM | Men's 8K – 3:30 PM
Results
NEW FACES
Both the men's and women's side are welcoming new runners to the squad, as each side have 14 newcomers. It's a solid mix of freshman, transfers, and graduate students that are sure to bring new excitement and fast times to the teams as they look forward to the new season.
LAST SEASON
Saint Mary's are coming off another solid season in 2022. In the West Coast Conference, the Gaels snatched 6th on the women's side and 8th on the men's side. Junior Rayna Stanziano had a stellar run per usual, finishing 5th overall.
Her Gaels teammate Molly Dreher got off to a speedy start as well, hanging with Stanziano and the opening pack for the opening minutes of the race. Stanziano held steady in fifth through the halfway point of the race, as Dreher settled into 33th.
The Saint Mary's trio of Emily Field, Sofia Cuevas, and Dani Rowlinson weren't far behind at the halfway point, running 44th, 45th, and 46th respectively.
On the men's side, Blaine Reynolds led the charge for the Gaels, finishing as the fastest Gael in 47th in a time of 24:08.6. Curtis Volf finished just a few seconds back in 50th, crossing the line in a time of 24:16.1.
At the NCAA West Regionals, Rayna Stanziano once again set the track alight, finishing 16th overall in a time of 19:43.6, a personal best by 23 seconds.
Her stellar run is the highest finish ever by a Gael at NCAA West Regionals, and nine spots higher than she finished last season. With her finish, she earned her second consecutive NCAA All-West Region Honors.
It wasn't just Stanziano who shined Friday morning, as her teammates that followed all put in stellar performances as well.
Molly Dreher was next across the line for the Gaels, finishing in 111th in a time of 21:03.0, a personal best by 20 seconds. A full minute and 10 seconds faster than her time at the regionals last year, Dreher's time on Friday moves her into 4th fastest all-time in the Gaels 6K record book.
Sophomore Klara Frih had the biggest time drop of the day, as she eviscerated her previous personal best time by 48 seconds. Frih's 21:19.7 also solidifies her spot on the 6K top-ten list for the Gaels, putting her 8thquickest all-time.
On the men's side, Blaine Reynolds led the way for the men, finishing in 109th for the Gaels in a time of 30:45.3, burying his previous 10K best by over two minutes.
After pacing each other the whole race, Reynolds' teammate Curtis Volf finished just behind in 117th in a time of 30:53.9.
#GaelRise
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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