MADISON, Wis. – Daan Haven made it three-straight outings as the Sun Devil No. 1, and John Reniewicki was the men's squad's top-finisher at the Pre-Nationals Invitational Saturday in Madison, Wisconsin.
The Sun Devil women drew the White section of the loaded field that included reigning national champion New Mexico, among others. Haven's 76th place finish in 21:34.2 helped ASU finish in 20th overall with 541 points.
"Going into it, I thought we'd be in the mid-to-high teens, and as a team, we finished 20th," women's head coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "We did a good job competing in the back half of the race and really fought hard. We're in a good place going into Pac-12s to really improve on what we did last year."
Samantha Ortega came through as the Devils' No. 2, Alexis Nichols continued her solid season by taking 109th and finishing as ASU's third, and Anna Pruter and Megan Reniewicki rounded out the scoring for the Devils at the Zimmer Championship Course.
"They'd done a pretty good job this year of putting themselves in the right position and they just didn't quite get there today," Rasmussen said. "It's their first time in a race that big. It's really hard to gauge where you are in the first K or 2K of the race and they didn't quite stick themselves where they needed to be."
The women of ASU came into the meet unranked in the region, but managed to finish above a number of regionally ranked programs, including the West's No. 14 Washington State.
Compared to the results of the Cardinal race that kicked off the festivities in Madison, the Sun Devils put up better scores than West No. 15 Portland State and in-state rival Arizona.
On the men's side, coach Cory Leslie's crew finished 28th with 743 points.
"I thought the group did the best job we've done all year in terms of competing," Leslie said. "From our No. 1 to our 7, it was by far the best they've competed all year. To be in that state as we head into the three biggest meets of the year, it's something to be excited about."
Reniewicki led the way, crossing the finish line in 24:59.1, and Fearghal Curtin finished as the Devils' No. 2 in his Maroon and Gold debut taking 155th place overall. Sophomores Erik Gonzalez (158) and Jackson Lewis (163) followed Curtin, and graduate transfer Garrett O'Toole was ASU's No. 5 in his first race for the Sun Devils as he came through in 178th.
"For John and the rest of the guys, the race plan was to trust themselves and trust their fitness, and they did a good job of doing that today," Leslie said. "I think that individually, they've each said they could have been higher up, and as a coach I agree. From here on out, it's just up to me to try to put them in the best situation to succeed at Pac-12s in two weeks."
The races in the Badger State marked ASU's regular season finale as the Devils turn their attention to the postseason, starting with the Pac-12 Championships in just two weeks.
Pre-Nationals Invitational | Madison, Wisc. | October 13, 2018
Women's White 6K
76. Daan Haven – 21:34.2
97. Samantha Ortega – 21:46.2
109. Alexis Nichols – 21:54.1
123. Anna Pruter – 22:02.5
136. Megan Reniewicki – 22:11.5
210. Courtney Lewis – 23:17.7
231. Angela Saitta – 23:59.4
Team Results
1. New Mexico – 67 pts.
2. Michigan – 120
3. Stanford – 129
4. Notre Dame – 172
5. Washington – 199*
6. Wisconsin – 199*
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20. Arizona State – 541
Men's Cardinal 8K
92. John Reniewicki – 24:59.1
155. Fearghal Curtin – 25:39.1
159. Erik Gonzalez – 25:41.9
164. Jackson Lewis – 25:44.9
178. Garrett O'Toole – 25:49.8
211. Michael Renner – 26:15.7
235. Ian Kebenei – 27:21.6
Team Results
1. Northern Arizona – 41 pts.
2. Stanford – 85
3. Colorado – 110
4. Oregon – 152
5. Wyoming – 191
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28. Arizona State – 743
The Sun Devil women drew the White section of the loaded field that included reigning national champion New Mexico, among others. Haven's 76th place finish in 21:34.2 helped ASU finish in 20th overall with 541 points.
"Going into it, I thought we'd be in the mid-to-high teens, and as a team, we finished 20th," women's head coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. "We did a good job competing in the back half of the race and really fought hard. We're in a good place going into Pac-12s to really improve on what we did last year."
Samantha Ortega came through as the Devils' No. 2, Alexis Nichols continued her solid season by taking 109th and finishing as ASU's third, and Anna Pruter and Megan Reniewicki rounded out the scoring for the Devils at the Zimmer Championship Course.
"They'd done a pretty good job this year of putting themselves in the right position and they just didn't quite get there today," Rasmussen said. "It's their first time in a race that big. It's really hard to gauge where you are in the first K or 2K of the race and they didn't quite stick themselves where they needed to be."
The women of ASU came into the meet unranked in the region, but managed to finish above a number of regionally ranked programs, including the West's No. 14 Washington State.
Compared to the results of the Cardinal race that kicked off the festivities in Madison, the Sun Devils put up better scores than West No. 15 Portland State and in-state rival Arizona.
On the men's side, coach Cory Leslie's crew finished 28th with 743 points.
"I thought the group did the best job we've done all year in terms of competing," Leslie said. "From our No. 1 to our 7, it was by far the best they've competed all year. To be in that state as we head into the three biggest meets of the year, it's something to be excited about."
Reniewicki led the way, crossing the finish line in 24:59.1, and Fearghal Curtin finished as the Devils' No. 2 in his Maroon and Gold debut taking 155th place overall. Sophomores Erik Gonzalez (158) and Jackson Lewis (163) followed Curtin, and graduate transfer Garrett O'Toole was ASU's No. 5 in his first race for the Sun Devils as he came through in 178th.
"For John and the rest of the guys, the race plan was to trust themselves and trust their fitness, and they did a good job of doing that today," Leslie said. "I think that individually, they've each said they could have been higher up, and as a coach I agree. From here on out, it's just up to me to try to put them in the best situation to succeed at Pac-12s in two weeks."
The races in the Badger State marked ASU's regular season finale as the Devils turn their attention to the postseason, starting with the Pac-12 Championships in just two weeks.
Pre-Nationals Invitational | Madison, Wisc. | October 13, 2018
Women's White 6K
76. Daan Haven – 21:34.2
97. Samantha Ortega – 21:46.2
109. Alexis Nichols – 21:54.1
123. Anna Pruter – 22:02.5
136. Megan Reniewicki – 22:11.5
210. Courtney Lewis – 23:17.7
231. Angela Saitta – 23:59.4
Team Results
1. New Mexico – 67 pts.
2. Michigan – 120
3. Stanford – 129
4. Notre Dame – 172
5. Washington – 199*
6. Wisconsin – 199*
--
20. Arizona State – 541
Men's Cardinal 8K
92. John Reniewicki – 24:59.1
155. Fearghal Curtin – 25:39.1
159. Erik Gonzalez – 25:41.9
164. Jackson Lewis – 25:44.9
178. Garrett O'Toole – 25:49.8
211. Michael Renner – 26:15.7
235. Ian Kebenei – 27:21.6
Team Results
1. Northern Arizona – 41 pts.
2. Stanford – 85
3. Colorado – 110
4. Oregon – 152
5. Wyoming – 191
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28. Arizona State – 743