VALPARAISO, Ind. – Notre Dame Cross Country opened up their 2021 campaign on Friday afternoon at Sunset Hill County Park while competing at the Winrow – Valparaiso Open. Both races allowed great opportunities for many new faces to put on the Monogram for the first time as they represented our Lady’s University. The women’s team finished runner up to state rival Purdue, while the men started the season with a dominating win.
WOMEN’S RECAP
The women traversed the 5,000 meter course going toe to toe with Purdue, UW-Green Bay, and Valparaiso. Through the first mile it was graduate transfer Maddie King who led the Irish in the lead pack. King would take turns leading the pack and eventually cross the finish line in with a final time of 17:27.4 placing second overall. Teammates Jackie Gaughan (8th), Erin Sullivan (9th), Katie Ryan (10th), and Isalina Colsman (12th) would round out the scoring for the Irish.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Maddie King 2nd 17:24.4
Jackie Gaughan 8th 18:08.8
Erin Sullivan 9th 18:11.6
Katie Ryan 10th 18:15.9
Isalina Colsman 12th 18:26.8
Olivia Niziolek 13th 18:28.4
Emily Eberhart 15th 19:02.9
TEAM RESULTS
Purdue 19
Notre Dame 41
Wisconsin Green Bay 91
Valparaiso 103
MEN’S RECAP
From the gun, every time the lead pack would circle the course, a row of Irishmen could be found controlling the pace. As they entered into the final 250 meter climb of the race, it was five young men looking around looking for someone to take the lead. In the end it was junior Zach Kreft who broke the tape with a final time of 18:30.6 earning himself his first collegiate cross country victory. Within the next four tenths of a second four of his teammates would cross the line, earning the Irish a perfect score.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Zach Kreft 1st 18:30.6
Quinn Gallagher 2nd 18:30.7
Henry Chapman 3rd 18:31.0
Lisandro Berry-Gaviria 4th 18:31.0
Carter Solomon 5th 18:31.0
Brian Griffith 8th 18:44.3
TEAM RESULTS
Notre Dame 15
Purdue 43
Valparaiso 89
Wisconsin Green Bay 100
COACHES’ CORNER
Hatherly Piane Head Coach Matt Sparks
“Really excited to see the performance of Maddie King, who only has been on campus for two weeks, come out and race with such confidence.”
Head Men’s Cross Country Coach Sean Carlson
“Great Opener for some of our guys to get more experience. They did a great job of running the Notre Dame way; a team race.”
UP NEXT
The Irish will have a week off, before returning home to Burke Golf Course for the 42nd annual National Catholic Invitational on September 17th with action getting underway at 3:30pm with the Women’s Championship Race.
FOLLOW THE IRISH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For a behind the scenes look at the Notre Dame Cross Country program follow the Irish on Twitter (@ndxctf) and Instagram (@ndxctf).