SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Returning to the course and competing for the first time this season outside of California, the USF Dons men's and women's cross country team was in action Friday afternoon as they participated in the 2022 Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational at Burke Golf Course. As a team the Dons women were able to come in 11th overall place as they ran the 5,000 meter race, while the men came in ninth place as a squad competing in the five mile run.
Leading the way for the USF men's team was graduate student
Ed Buck who came in third place overall with a time of 24:01.5 in the five mile run on Friday. It was the second time in the early portion of the season that Buck was able to post a top three finish as he opened his season with a second place finish at the USF Invitational.
On the women's side, redshirt junior
Ruby Smee led the way for her team competing in the 5,000 meter run as she came in 30th overall place with a time of 16:42 on Friday afternoon. Smee a preseason All-WCC selection has been the first USF athlete to finish her race through the team's first three meets in the 2022 season. Senior
Baneet Bains put together a tremendous race as well finishing second among USF runners with a 41st place finish and a time of 16:52.1 in South Bend.
RESULTS:
Men's Five Mile Run:
3.
Ed Buck 24:01.5
32.
Caleb Haugland 25:15.3
38.
Hiruy Alemseged 25:203
57.
Daniel Abramowicz 25:43.9
76.
Marshall Bush 26:14.6
84.
Joe Skovron 26:38
99.
Ben Preddy 27:26.5
9th Place Finish
Women's 5,000 Meter Run:
30.
Ruby Smee 16:42
41.
Baneet Bains 16:52.1
55.
Zoe Wassell 17:07.9
75.
Abby Pradere 17:20.4
99.
Grace Copeland 17:35.4
124.
Kalii Caldwell 17:53.1
129.
Sophie Soefeldt 17:54.8
139.
Julia Morales 18:02.3
11th Place Finish
CATCHING UP WITH COACH RILEY:
"Our goal on the women's side was to finish in the top 10 in today's loaded field. Finishing eleventh we were just short of that but we still beat some teams that should help us get to Nationals come November.
Baneet Bains had the race of the day finishing 41st and just 10 seconds behind Ruby. On the men's side, Ed had another great performance finishing third but overall it was tough day for the men."
UP NEXT:
The Dons will now return back home and will be back competing in the city as they will compete in 2022 SF State Invitational on Friday October 7. Next Friday's event will mark the fourth race day for the Dons this season, and the second time they will compete at Golden Gate Park.
FOLLOW US:
For more information on the USF men's and women's cross country programs, be sure to follow @donsxctf on Twitter, @donsxctf on Instagram and @donsxctf on Facebook.
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor - Provident Credit Union - for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact
Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.
