Cross Country opens season with Autumn Classic

PROVO, Utah — BYU cross country kicks off its 2021 season hosting the Autumn Classic at Timpanogos Golf Club on Saturday.

Both the men's and women's teams will compete in the meet. BYU men's cross country will face in-state and regional rival, Weber State at the Autumn Classic. The Wildcats entered the 2021 season ranked No. 7 in the Mountain Region, five spots below No. 2 BYU. Weber State won the College of Southern Idaho Classic in Twin Falls, Idaho on Saturday, Sept. 4.

Dixie State University, the College of Southern Idaho and the College of Southern Nevada will also join the Cougars in the Classic.

Meet Information

• Saturday, September 11
• Women's 5K: 9:35 a.m. MDT
• Men's 7K: 10:30 a.m. MDT
• Spectator Admission: $6
• Meet Details
• Live Results

Men's Preview

Returning All-Americans Conner Mantz and Casey Clinger will lead the Cougars into 2021 at the Autumn Classic. Brandon Garnica, Zac Jacklin, Creed Thompson, Aidan Troutner and Adam Wood will also represent BYU in defending their home course. 

Mantz headlines the Cougars' 2021 team as the reigning NCAA Division I and West Coast Conference Individual Champion. Troutner embarks on his sophomore season after a freshman campaign in which he was honored as WCC Freshman of the Year. Thompson will appear in his first collegiate meet for the Cougars on Saturday following a decorated prep career at Skyridge High School in Lehi, Utah. 

Two years removed from a national title, BYU men's cross country enters the season ranked No. 3 in the USTFCCCA Division I Coaches' Poll. Following a disappointing third-place nationals finish in 2020, the Cougars will look to reclaim their crown at the NCAA Championships in Tallahassee, Florida on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Prior to nationals both men's and women's teams will host the NCAA Mountain Regional at Timpanogos Golf Club on Friday, Nov. 12. 

BYU stands as the undisputed preseason No. 1 in the WCC Coaches' Poll and seeks to secure its seventh-consecutive league title at the conference championships in Concord, California on Friday, Oct. 29. 

Following Saturday's season-opener, three regular season meets hosted, respectively, by Minnesota, Utah State and Florida State, precede the team's post-season action. 

Women's Preview

Freshmen Carmen Alder, Lizzie Dildine and Reagan Gardner, as well as Aubrey Frentheway, Heather Hanson, Kate Hunter, Johnston, 2020-21 WCC Freshman of the Year Anna Martin, Madi Moffitt, Rachel Morrin, Sara Musselman and Julie Sumsion are slated to race in the Autumn Classic on Saturday.

The defending National Champs earned a #1 rank in both the USTFCCCA and Mountain Region preseason polls last week. The Cougars were also picked to win the WCC, with six athletes named to the Preseason All-WCC team.

All seven athletes from the 2020-21 National Championship team, including All-Americans Anna Camp-Bennett, Frentheway, Whittni Orton and Musselman. McKenna Lee Hansen, Haley Johnston and Lexy Halladay also return. 

BYU looks to win its fourth-straight WCC championship this season. Frentheway, Camp-Bennett, Musselman and Lee Hansen each finished in the top-10 at last years championship meet. 

Following the Autumn Classic, the Cougars will race at the FSU XC Open on Sept. 17, the Steve T. Reeder Memorial Invitational on Oct. 8 and the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Oct. 15.

The WCC Championships are slated for Oct. 29, with the NCAA Mountain Regional and NCAA Championships to follow on Nov. 12 and Nov. 20, respectively.