TUCSON, Ariz. – The Sun Devil cross-country team made a statement in the Dave Murray Invitational at Tucson’s Dell Urich Golf Course on Friday afternoon.
Head coach Louie Quintana wanted to see a team race and see both men and women’s groups could do with a full unit running.
“The girls executed well,” Quintana said. “Our second group closed the gap well – we’re talking (redshirt senior) Jennifer Owen, (junior) Jenna Maack, (redshirt senior) Shaina Corbin – really made great progress through the course and were methodical.”
For the women, freshman Samantha Ortega debuted in style, winning the race with a time of 16:50.00. The time ended up breaking the Arizona State women’s all-time course record held by Anna Sperry by 13 seconds.
“As a freshman to have the kind of poise that she had to execute the race plan, to stay with her teammates, and to really help her other teammates manage the course was great,” Quintana said.
The Santa Clarita, Calif. native broke away during the final stretch of the 3-mile race, catching the leader from the University of Arizona and pulling away for a five-second victory.
“I was just mostly excited to be out here with ASU and tackle my first race with the team,” Ortega said. “It went really well and I think everyone did their absolute best, and it was a good time.”
Her teammates followed her pace, as seniors Adriana Olivas and Cristina Juan Torres finished fourth and fifth respectively. Junior Chelsey Totten, Owen, Maack and Corbin rounded out the top-10 in that order, helping the Sun Devil women secure the top spot as a team with 25 points.
For the No. 23 men, finishing with the top six spots – two running unattached – certainly helped them make a statement.
Redshirt senior Ryan Herson paced the group with a time of 21:27.00, and placed him third on the men’s all-time course record list for the event. It was also Herson’s first collegiate victory.
“I felt good today,” Herson said. “It’s always nice to lace up, put on the Arizona State jersey, come down here to a local meet and get an opportunity to run with the team. Happy to get the win and help the guys.”
The men took the top spot thanks to top-eight finishes by redshirt junior CJ Albertson, redshirt senior Ryan Norton, and redshirt freshmen Ryan Normand and Nick Dale for a total of 17 points. Junior Bernie Montoya finished third overall in his first race back since November with a time of 21:44.00. Freshman Simon Paige also finished sixth unattached with a time of 22:06.00.
The men and women will get the week off before a big matchup at the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday, Oct. 2 in South Bend, Ind.
Women's Results
1. Arizona State - 25
2. Arizona - 34
3. Northern Arizona - 84
1. Samantha Ortega - 16:50.00
4. Adriana Olivas - 17:04.00
5. Cristina Juan Torres - 17:06.00
7. Chelsey Totten - 17:10.00
8. Jen Owen - 17:10.00
9. Jenna Maack - 17:15.00
10. Shaina Corbin - 17:40.00
11. Kaitlin Kaluzny - 17:45.00 (Unattached)
13. Hanna Benoit-Bucher - 17:50.00
18. Madison Davis - 18:14.00
23. Anna Pruter - 18:47.00 (Unattached)
27. Carissa Diaz - 19:21.00 (Unattached)
29. Lea Patek - 19:29.00
32. Kelly Schock - 19:49.00 (Unattached)
Men's Results
1. Arizona State - 16 points
2. Arizona - 58
3. Northern Arizona - 64
Individual
1. Ryan Herson - 21:27.00
2. CJ Albertson - 21:40.00
3. Bernie Montoya - 21:44.00 (Unattached)
4. Ryan Norton - 21:49.00
5. Ryan Normand - 21:50.00
6. Simon Paige - 22:06.00 (Unattached)
8. Nick Dale - 22:13.00
9. Brandon Boys - 22:14.00
12. Cody Brazeal - 22:37.00
17. John Reniewicki - 23:01.00
19. Riley Wattier - 23:02.00
21. Jeff Bickert - 23:10.00
24. Alex Stevens - 23:24.00 (Unattached)
28. Kyle Shinn - 23:35.00
37. JP Nelson - 24:10.00