Terre Haute, Ind. – Last Friday night, October 4th, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks men's and women's cross-country teams competed in their only night race of the season against NCAA DIII competition from across the country at the DIII Pre-Nationals hosted by Rose-Hulman.
The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course saw the Hawks race eight runners on both the men's and women's side. Joey Loriso led the men with a time of 27:08.78 in the 8K while Sophia Halama led the women with a time of 24:33.13 in the 6K.
As the Hawks continue to prepare for the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Championships that takes place the first weekend of November, they raced against fellow NACC schools Aurora University and Concordia University Wisconsin in the DIII Pre-Nationals race.
RESULTS
WOMEN
204th – Sophia Halama – 24:33.13
322nd – Valerie Lending – 26:34.06
382nd – Isabelle Pullen – 30:16.95
384th – Paige McEnerny – 30:46.30
385th – Ellie Post – 30:51.30
386th – Clara Pargett – 33:08.17
388th – Adela Rivas – 37:15.77
389th – Kal Kotarba – 43:19.26
MEN
217th – Joey Loriso – 27:08.78
304th – Gabe Durazo – 27:57.71
322nd – Alejandro Torres – 28:12.96
341st – Nicholas Quigley – 28:41.42
346th – Andrew Farber – 28:52.55
351st – Lane Regan – 28:58.34
361st – John McCullough – 29:11.16
386th – Mason Brewer – 30:38.90
HEAD COACH TYLER MCQUALITY'S COMMENTS
"I am happy with our team's performance competing at one of the best meets of the year. It was a great learning experience that we need to learn and grow from heading into championship season in the coming weeks."
ASSISTANT COACH EVAN BALIZADO'S COMMENTS
"Great experience competing against a national level field for our team. Each time we have more and more athletes running faster than they ever have before. One more race and then we are on to conference!"
ASSISTANT COACH ALLAYNA GAGNARD'S COMMENTS
"We were very excited to compete at the DIII Pre-Nationals last Friday night. The team showed perseverance, and we are excited to move into the second half of the season!"
UP NEXT
With one more meet before the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Championships (NACC), the Hawks will compete at the Augustana Interregional Invitational hosted by Augustana College. The final tune up meet will take place on Saturday, October 19th in Rock Island, Ill. at the Saukie Golf Course. The women's race will begin at 12:30 PM with the men's race following at 1:15 PM.