SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame Cross Country team hosted the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational 2026 on Friday, October 2nd.
The Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational was started by former Irish head coach Alex Wilson in 1956. In 1987, the women’s races were added to the invitational. The Notre Dame Invitational was renamed to the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational starting with the 2015 race to honor the long-time Irish cross country coach after his retirement in ahead of the 2014 season.
The No. 15 ranked Irish men won the team title in the Men’s Blue Division race. The No. 7 ranked Irish women finished second as a team in the Women’s Blue Division race.
Women’s Race
The opening race of the invitational saw the Irish battle closely with the number one team in the nation NC State. Mary Bonner Dalton was the top finisher for the Irish placing 11th with a time of 16:09.88. Amaya Aramini followed closely behind Dalton with 12th place finish coming in at 16:10.95. Gretchen Farley was the third Irish finisher at 17th in 16:22.86. Huyler was the fourth Notre Dame woman to finish. She placed 21st with a time of 16:26.97. Reagan Riley was the final Irish scorer at 23rd in 16:32.92. Rosie Mucharsky (16:44.85) and Isabel Allori (16:45.39) finished 28th and 29th. Mary Grace Hegberg (17:23.43) placed 69th and Addison Knoblauch (17:30.63) finished 77th.
Women’s Blue Division Results
Mary Bonner Dalton – 11th (16:09.88)
Amaya Aramini – 12th (16:10.95)
Gretchen Farley – 17th (16:22.86)
Chloe Huyler – 21st (16:26.97)
Reagan Riley – 23rd (16:32.92)
Rosie Mucharsky – 28th (16:44.85)
Isabel Allori – 29th (16:45.39)
Mary Grace Hegberg – 69th (17:23.43)
Addison Knoblauch – 77th (17:30.63)
Women’s Blue Division Team Scores
- NC State – 39
- Notre Dame – 84
- South Carolina – 102
- Clemson – 142
- Indiana – 159
- San Francisco – 209
- Bradley – 223
- Grand Valley State – 245
- Akron – 269
- Western Michigan – 277
- Illinois State – 291
- Saint Louis – 319
- Youngstown State – 351
- Butler – 362
- Indiana State – 400
- St. Thomas (Minn.) – 401
- Dayton – 480
- Miami (Fla.) – 497
- Belmont – 509
- Texas State – 536
Men’s Race
For the fifth consecutive season the Irish men claimed the team title in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational 2026 Blue Division race. In back to back races at Notre Dame’s home course Daelin Ackley finished first overall, he had a time of 22:54.7. Cameron Todd finished just about four seconds behind him to take second with a time of 22:58.6. While Ackley and Todd set a strong start for the Irish’s path to another Joe Piane team title, Drew Griffith (23:17.2) and Kevin Sanchez (23:17.4) helped secure the team victory finishing together at fifth and sixth. Max Douglass was the final Irish scorer with a top 12 finish placing 11th with a time of 23:28.3. True Freshman Noah Bontrager continues to impress in just his second ever collegiate race playing 16th with a time of 23:37.0. Just about 4 seconds behind his performance at the National Catholic Invite. Jack Henzke finished 40th (24:17.5) and Benji Anderson finished 56th (24:49.6).
Men’s Blue Division Results
Daelen Ackley – 1st (22:54.7)
Cameron Todd – 2nd (22:58.6)
Drew Griffith – 5th (23:17.2)
Kevin Sanchez – 6th (23:17.4)
Max Douglass – 11th (23:28.3)
Noah Bontrager – 16th (23:37.0)
Jack Henzke – 40th (24:17.5)
Benji Anderson – 86th (24:49.6)
Men’s Blue Division Team Scores
- Notre Dame – 22
- Bradley – 87
- NC State – 110
- Grand Valley State – 153
- Illinois State – 180
- San Francisco – 186
- Clemson – 221
- IU Indianapolis – 235
- Indiana – 239
- Eastern Michigan – 286
- Belmont – 293
- Akron – 296
- Youngstown State – 296
- Indiana State – 362
- Central Michigan – 371
- St. Thomas (Minn.) – 409
- UTSA – 500
- Miami (Fla.) – 542
Open Race
Several Irish runners competed in the combined men’s and women’s open race. Bridget Gallagher finished 13th with a time of 17:43.33, Nicki Southerland placed 14th with a time of 17:51.22. Kaitlyn Carr finished 28th with a time of 18:32.47.
Kellen Williams took fifth with a time of 24:30.73. Riku Sugie finished 13th with a time of 24:47.77.
Women’s Open Division Results
Bridget Gallagher – 13th (17:43.33)
Nicki Southerland – 14th (17:51.22)
Kaitlyn Carr – 28th (18:32.47)
Men’s Open Division Results
Kellen Williams – 5th (24:30.73)
Riku Sugie – 13th (24:47.77)
Women’s Open Division Team Scores
- Grand Valley State – 38
- Indiana – 47
- Hillsdale – 77
- St. Thomas (Minn.) – 101
- Central Michigan – 117
- Western Ontario – 146
- Youngstown State – 203
- Illinois-Chicago – 227
- Marquette – 228
- Purdue Fort Wayne – 230
- Green Bay – 272
Men’s Open Division Team Scores
- Grand Valley State – 18
- Hillsdale – 60
- IU Indianapolis – 99
- Bradley – 114
- Youngstown State – 142
- St. Thomas (Minn.) – 151
- Toledo – 159
- Western Ontario – 225
- Green Bay – 232
- Rio Grande – 253
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Women’s Gold Division Team Scores
- Toledo – 71
- Chicago – 108
- Windsor – 129
- Central Michigan – 154
- Eastern Michigan – 186
- Northern Illinois – 269
- Purdue Fort Wayne – 292
- Oakland – 302
- Illinois-Chicago – 315
- Western Ontario – 324
- UTSA – 330
- UAB – 343
- Ball State – 347
- Kent State – 367
- Omaha – 375
- Valparaiso – 385
- Western Illinois – 386
- Loyola Marymount – 397
- Nova Southeastern – 421
- Marquette – 467
- Rio Grande – 497
- Green Bay – 550
- Milwaukee – 561
- Cleveland State – 679
Men’s Gold Division Team Scores
- Tiffin – 120
- Western Ontario – 152
- Marquette – 164
- Saint Louis – 176
- Illinois-Chicago – 183
- Southern Illinois – 188
- Texas State – 207
- Green Bay – 220
- Windsor – 232
- Valparaiso – 234
- Goshen – 244
- Chicago – 253
- Oakland – 303
- Dayton – 314
- Milwaukee – 363
- Purdue Fort Wayne – 380
- Rio Grande – 391
- Nova Southeastern – 413
- Kent State – 450
- Western Illinois – 561
- Chicago State – 594