The Youngstown State men's and women's cross-country programs were back in action as they traveled to South Bend, Ind. to compete in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational on Friday.

The men competed in the Blue Men's 8K race for the second consecutive year and the third time in the last 25 years. Senior Thomas Caputo led the men with a 66^th-place finish individually, as he ran a time of 23:45.7, the third-fastest in program history. Ryan Meadows was the next Penguin to cross the finish line, as he ran a time of 23:54.8, which was good enough for an 82^nd-place finish. Tobias Jones finished closely behind Meadows in 85^th place, as he ran a time of 23:57.4, making it three penguins that finished the race in under 24 minutes.

Blaze Fichter was the next Penguin to finish, as his time of 24:18.4 gave him a 114^th-place finish.  His teammate Owen Brady ran close behind, as he finished 118^th, clocking a time of 24:20.6. Connor Shingleton ran a time of 24:46.7, good enough for a 135^th-place finish, Sage Vavro's time of 24:54.1 gave him a 142^nd-place finish, Thomas Hunyadi came across the finish line with a time of 25:03.8 which granted a 149^th-place finish, and Joshua Jones rounded out the field of Penguin men as he finished 159^th with a time of 25:21.0.

The men finished 18^th overall out of 19 teams competing. Six Penguin men overall ran new personal-best times in the race.

The women competed in the Gold Women's 5K race, and they were led by freshman Caleigh Richards who put together another quality performance early in her collegiate career. Richards put together a time of 17:25.2, the third-fastest 5K time in program history, as she paced the Penguin women with a 10^th-place finish. McKinley Fielding ran closely with Richards as the duo has done often this season, as Fielding finished 11^th with a time of 17:29.6. Her time was the fourth-fastest in program history in the 5K. Molly Hopple was the next Penguin to cross the finish line as she ran a time of 18:44.5, which was good enough for a 90^th-place finish.

Megan Stafford and Jenna Razavi also ran closely together, as they finished 106^th and 109^th respectively, with Stafford running a time of 19:01.3, and Razavi running a time of 19:04.7. Molly Yasnowski was the sixth Penguin to finish the race as her time of 19:21.4 was good enough for a 131^st-place finish.

Cecilia Chase finished 140^th with a time of 19:30.1, Caylee Mackey finished 149^th with a time of 19:42.0, and Linsey Plant rounded out the Penguin women as she ran a time of 20:07.8, which was good enough for a 161^st-place finish.

The women finished 12^th overall out of 23 teams that competed in the race.

The Penguins also had men and women who competed in the open races on Friday.

Keegan Barnette paced the Penguin men in the Men's Open 8K, as his time of 24:54.7 was good enough for a 33^rd-place finish. Riley Jackson finished close behind Barnette, as he finished 44^th with a time of 25:13.3. Beau Gorby was the next Penguin to finish as he placed 58^th with a time of 25:36.4. William Hanchosky finished 76^th with a time of 25:59.9 to round out the Penguin men in the race.

Six Youngstown State women ran in the Women's Open 5K race on Friday, led by Aiamyia Dudley who placed 88^th with a time of 19:19.3. Kenzy Beckett finished in 95^th place as she ran a time of 19:35.0, with Grace Rhoades finishing closely behind her in 99^th place with a time of 19:49.9. Lauren Runion's time of 19:59.1 was good enough for a 103^rd-place finish, Alayana Cuevas finished in 106^th place with a time of 20:26.7, and Bre Jokie rounded out the Penguin women with a 108^th-place finish, running a time of 20:43.2.