UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State women’s cross country team earned the win in the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday morning, while the men’s team placed fifth. Florence Caron, Sophia Toti, and Maddie Ullom all finished inside the top ten overall to help the Nittany Lions earn the win.
“Enjoyed a very nice start to the season for both programs today,” said Head Coach John Gondak. “The women pulled out the win over an excellent field. They showed good depth and raced very well over the back half of the race. The men got off to a slow start but really closed well in the second half of the race to finish in the top five. We’re very proud of how both programs competed today.”
WOMEN’S 6K RACE
The Nittany Lions’ depth was on full display at the Spiked Shoe Invitational, with two runners scoring points for Penn State in their first home races combined with three very strong top-ten overall performances.
Caron led Penn State through the line at home, finishing second overall in 20:03.9. Her time was the ninth-fastest ever run on Penn State’s home course. Toti (20:35.5) and Ullom (20:39.1) placed sixth and seventh for the Nittany Lions, making Penn State the only school in the field to have three top ten finishers. Allison Dougherty finished 11th overall in her first in-uniform race on Penn State’s home course. Claire Daniels, also running her first-ever in-uniform home race, came through with a 20:52.5. Claire Zubey clocked a 20:54.6 to finish 17th, rounding out the Nittany Lions’ top five.
Following Penn State in first (42 pts) was Syracuse (2nd, 62 pts), Princeton (3rd, 78 pts), UConn (4th, 91 pts), and Pitt (5th, 164 pts).
Penn State Women’s Top Seven Results (1st - 42 pts):
Place (Points) Runner Time
2 (2) Florence Caron 20:03.9
6 (6) Sophia Toti 20:35.5
7 (7) Maddie Ullom 20:39.1
11 (11) Allison Dougherty 20:44.1
16 (16) Claire Daniels 20:52.5
17 Claire Zubey 20:54.6
26 Faith DeMars 21:05.4
MEN’S 5.2-MILE RACE
Just one of the Nittany Lions’ top-five finishers had ever run on their home course in uniform before Friday’s race, as grad transfer Jake Allen, three redshirt freshmen, and senior Justin Healey pushed the Nittany Lions to fifth place overall.
Allen led the Nittany Lion men across the line with an excellent finish, coming in at 25:37.4 for 25th place. Brian DiCola (25:40.4, 28th) and Nick Sloff (25:41.3, 29th) crossed the line right behind Allen, while Healey (25:53.6, 38th) and Logan Strawser (25:58.1, 47th) rounded out the top five, all under 26 minutes.
Syracuse finished in the top spot with 31 team points, followed by Georgetown (2nd, 70 pts), Missouri (3rd, 147 pts), Columbia (4th, 163 pts), and Penn State (5th, 165 pts).
Penn State Men’s Top Seven Results (5th - 165 pts):
Place (Points) Runner Time
25 (25) Jake Allen 25:37.4
28 (28) Brian DiCola 25:40.4
29 (29) Nick Sloff 25:41.3
38 (37) Justin Healey 25:53.6
47 (46) Logan Strawser 25:58.1
64 Ryan Watson 26:07.9
66 Caiden Leen 26:08.6
WHAT’S NEXT
Penn State continues its 2024 cross country slate with a trip to Madison, Wisconsin for the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Friday, September 27.
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