SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Indiana State cross country posted a strong showing Friday at the Joe Piane Invitational, overcoming warm weather and top competition at the Burke Golf Course.
 
The Sycamores placed seventh in the men's gold division race and were leading the pack for long stretches of the race. Indiana State placed 15th in the women's blue division race, which featured a plethora of nationally and regionally ranked foes.
 
Ryan York paced the Blue and White on the men's side, with his 8k time of 24:31.5 representing a career-best time and earning him a top-10 finish for the first time in his career. York placed seventh in the field and also ran a top-20 8k time in program history, while Ryan Handy clocked a time of 25:05.0 to place in the top 35.
 
Emerson Fayman (25:26.1), Chris Angeles (25:29.2) and Parker Mimbela (25:36.1) rounded out the top five for the Trees with top-60 finishes. Will Kozlowski (25:52.3), Xander Fackler (25:59.4) and Jcim Grant (26:09.6) closed out Sycamore finishers. Mason Nobles was among the Sycamore leaders and inside the top 35 at the 6k mark, but was unable to finish the race.
 
Brittney Burak led the way for the Trees on the women's side with a time of 17:10.5 and was joined in the top 60 overall by Peyton Smith with a time of 17:13.1. Sawyer DeWitt (17:36.6), Hadley Gradolf (17:44.9) and Emma Gresham (17:46.8) rounded out the Sycamores' top five.
 
Gnister Grant (17:49.0), Alli Steffey (18:20.1), Eve Schurr (18:32.0) and Halle Miller (19:01.9) closed out the Sycamore contingent on the women's side, as Indiana State's top six finishers all recorded top-20 5k marks in program history.
 
Indiana State also fielded a pair of entries in the open races Friday in South Bend. Brandon Mueller ran an 8k time of 25:52.3 on the men's side, less than a second off his PR, while Kamilla Gibson ran a career-best 5k time of 19:00.8.
 
Notre Dame placed first on both the men's and women's side in the blue division (invitational) races, while UChicago (men) and Windsor (women) won the gold division races. Cincinnati's Nickson Kogei (men's blue), Notre Dame's Mary Bonner Dalton (women's blue), Green Bay's Noah Jahnke (men's gold) and Akron's Mercy Jebitok (women's gold) won the individual titles Friday.
 
Indiana State Results (Men's 8K/Women's 5K)
WOMEN: 15th of 20 teams (50-53-94-102-103-(106)-(129)) – 402 points (Blue Division – Invitational Section)
55. Brittney Burak – 17:10.5
59. Peyton Smith – 17:13.1
105. Sawyer DeWitt – 17:36.6
116. Hadley Gradolf – 17:44.9
118. Emma Gresham – 17:46.8
121. Gnister Grant – 17:49.0
150. Alli Steffey – 18:20.1
160. Eve Schurr – 18:32.0
175. Halle Miller – 19:01.9
 
MEN: 7th of 21 teams (7-33-52-56-60-(75)-(86)) – 208 points (Gold Division)
7. Ryan York – 24:31.5
33. Ryan Handy – 25:05.0
52. Emerson Fayman – 25:26.1
56. Chris Angeles – 25:29.2
60. Parker Mimbela – 25:36.7
75. Will Kozlowski – 25:52.3
86. Xander Fackler – 25:59.4
98. Jcim Grant – 26:09.6
Mason Nobles - DNF
 
OPEN RACES
57. Kamilla Gibson – 19:00.8 (women's 5k)
57. Brandon Mueller – 25:52.3 (men's 8k)
 
Up Next
Indiana State turns its attention to another split-squad weekend, as the Sycamores will field entries at the Bradley Pink Classic and the Pre-National Invitational October 17-18.
 
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on the Sycamore Cross Country teams, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from the both the App Store and the Google Play Store.