BYU Cross Country Sweeps Silver State XC Challenge

LAS VEGAS – Both BYU cross country teams won their respective races to sweep the Silver State XC Challenge at the Craig Ranch Regional Park on Monday.

Final Results

No. 2 BYU Men’s Cross Country

Conner Mantz outkicked an NAU runner down the final stretch to win the men’s “fast race” with a time of 22:50.4. The All-American’s performance helped No. 2 BYU men’s cross country to a first-place finish in a field of strong competitors.

The Cougars totaled 49 points to defeat No. 1 NAU (54 points), No. 18 Washingon (75 points), No. 4 Notre Dame (80 points), No. 27 Air Force (92 points), No. 24 Weber State (158 points) and Boise State (179 points).

Four BYU runners finished in the top 10 of the race. All-American Casey Clinger took fourth place (23:05.5), Brandon Garnica finished sixth (23:11.5) and All-American Clayson Shumway placed 10th (23:26.4).

Boise State transfer Elijah Armstrong finished 28th overall (23:53.5), Aidan Troutner placed 34th (24:10.8) and Easton Allred rounded out the Cougars’ seven at 40th (24:23.8).

BYU also had its B squad compete in the men’s green race at the Silver State XC Challenge. This second group of Cougars swept the competition by finishing 1-5. Ethan Cannon took first place for BYU (24:01.8) and was followed by Connor Weaver (24:03.4), Adam Wood (24:04.0), Stetson Moss (24:10.7) and Zac Jacklin (24:17.7).

No. 3 BYU Women’s Cross Country

Anna Camp-Bennett took second place in the women’s “fast race” with a time of 19:52.9 to lead No. 3 BYU women’s cross country to a first-place finish. Aubrey Frentheway finished fourth overall (20:00.2) and Lexy Halladay placed 10th (20:22.6) to give the Cougars three runners in the top 10.

Haley Johnston was the 13th runner to cross (20:31.6) and was followed by Anna Martin in 17th (20:40.3), McKenna Lee in 23rd (20:56.3), and Kaela Cleary in 40th (21:29.4).

BYU finished with 46 points to beat several ranked teams, including No. 13 Boise State (61 points), No. 26 NAU (64 points), No. 8 Washington (88 points), and No. 18 Utah (137 points).

Three Cougars raced in the women’s green race later in the day. Freshman Caroline McLeskey won the race by three-tenths of a second in her collegiate debut. Rachel Morrin took third place (21:16.5) and Amanda Erickson finished in sixth (21:44.0) as the trio all finished in the top six.

Both BYU cross country teams will compete next at the West Coast Conference Championships on Wednesday, Feb. 24, in Las Vegas. Details for this meet will be announced at a later date.