For the first time this season, the Vandal cross country team split up with the primary runners racing Saturday in Sunnyvale, Calif., for the Bronco Invitational and another group racing in Lewiston at the Inland Empire Championships. It was the last weekend of competition for Idaho before the Nov. 2 WAC
Championships.
It was also the first race since Sept. 14 at the Sundodger Invitational for Vandal veteran Hannah Kiser. The senior showed no rust as she took second in the women’s 6-kilometer invitational race in 20 minutes, 19.7 seconds. The invitational race was the tougher of the two races at the meet and featured more than
200 competitors.
“This was one of the best performances we have ever had as a team over a 6K course,” Idaho coach Wayne Phipps said. “Hannah had a great race especially since it was her first race in
five weeks.”
Sophomore Halie Raudenbush was the next Vandal to cross the finish line at 23rd overall in 21:10.7. Following Raudenbush were senior Emily Paradis (21:28.1), sophomore Alex Siemens (21:44.2) and senior Holly Stanton (21:47.9) to round out the Idaho
top five.
The Vandals finished fourth out of 19 Division I teams at the Bronco Invitational with score of 99.
On the men’s side, junior Cody Helbling was the top Vandal finisher at 17th overall, on the men’s 8-kilometer course with a time of 24:18.0. Following Helbling were freshman Nicholas Boersma (24:49.3), sophomore Santos Vargas (25:01.3), freshman Mickey Day (25:40.0) and sophomore Morgan Choate (25:50.4) to round out
Vandal scoring.
“Cody ran really well today despite battling some sickness,” Phipps said. “He has firmly established himself as one of the favorites to win an individual conference championship.”
The Idaho men’s team took ninth overall out of the 18 Division I teams finishing with a score of 254.
In all, the Vandals took eight women and five men to the meet in Sunnyvale, Calif. Idaho also had a small group of runner compete at Lewiston for the Inland Northwest Championships.
In Lewiston, all six of the Vandal runners on the women’s side posted personal records. Sophomore Marquita Palmer led the way for Idaho with a 12th-place finish in 17:52 on the 5-kilometer course.
With the conclusion of the regular season, the Vandals have two weeks to prepare for the Nov. 2 WAC Championships where the womens team will be competing for its fourth-straight WAC title.
“I feel as though this was the perfect weekend for us in preparation for the Western Athletic Conference Championships in two weeks,” Phipps said.