Fort Wayne, Ind. – It was a day to remember for the Youngstown State men's and women's cross-country teams as each program secured Horizon League titles as the Mastodon Cross Country Course.
The men's 8K kicked off the day's festivities, and the Penguins were led by Horizon League Men's Freshman of the Year, Patrick Burgos. He placed fourth individually with a time of 23:55.7. The Penguins placed six runners in the top 20, as Blaze Fichter finished sixth (24:00.2), Tobias Jones placed 10th (24:09.7), Sage Vavro was 11th (24:15.0), Owen Brady finished 19th (24:33.8), and Brock Farris rounded out the top 20 right behind Brady, clocking a time of 24:36.3. Ethan Cope was the next Penguin to cross the finish line in 27th place with a time of 24:41.7, while Josh Jones finished right behind him in 28th, clocking a time of 24:43.0. Connor Singleton placed 36th (24:57.8), Beau Gorby finished 46th (25:14.4), Zac Haley placed 49th (25:17.1), and Thomas Hunyadi rounded out the Penguin men with a time of 26:42.3, placing 95th.
The YSU men won their fourth-consecutive Horizon League Cross Country title, becoming just third program in conference history to achieve that feat, joining Notre Dame (1988-1994) and Butler (2002-2011). The Penguins had 50 points, while Oakland placed second, totaling 92 points, and IU Indianapolis finished third with 99 points.
The women's 6K race was next, and McKinley Fielding etched her name in YSU Cross Country history as she placed first with a time of 20:10.9, which breaks her old program record by 30 seconds, and was 36 seconds quicker than the second-place finisher. Fielding became just the second YSU female to win a Horizon League XC title, joining Morgan Cole, who was victorious in 2022. Caleigh Richards was the next Penguin to cross the finish line, placing sixth with a time of 21:08.5, while Jenna Razavi finished closely behind her in ninth with a time of 21:16.8. Freshman Maggie Hopple finished 18th with a time of 21:49, while Megan Stafford placed 21st, clocking a time of 21:52.8, and Lillian Katsaras finished 24th with a time of 21:55.0. Karis McElhaney wrapped up her first conference championship meet with a 36th-place finish, clocking a time of 22:26.7, while Molly Hopple finished in 39th with a time of 22:29.4. Kenzy Beckett finished 50th (22:39.0), Lauren Runion placed 58th (22:47.7), Carly Hall placed 63rd (22:51.5), and Linsey Plant rounded out the Penguin women with a time of 22:57.3, finishing in 67th place.
The YSU women won their second Horizon League title in program history, and first since 2014. The Penguins had 54 points, followed by Purdue Fort Wayne with 74 points, and Oakland with 79.
Today's titles mark the first time in school history that Youngstown State has won men's and women's cross-country titles in the same year.
Penguins Head Coach Brian Gorby was honored as the Horizon League Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, marking the third time that he has won the award, and first time since 2014.
Award Winners
Men's Team Champion:Â Youngstown State
Women's Team Champion:Â Youngstown State
Men's Coach of the Year:Â Paul Rice, Oakland
Women's Coach of the Year:Â Brian Gorby, Youngstown State
Men's Freshman of the Year:Â Patrick Burgos, Youngstown State
Women's Freshman of the Year:Â Eliza Bush, Oakland
Men's All-League First Team
Noah Jahnke, Green Bay
Natnael Wedlemichael, Northern Kentucky
Josh Otten, Detroit Mercy
Patrick Burgos, Youngstown State
Colton O'Hara, Northern Kentucky
Blaze Fichter, Youngstown State
Wesley Hollowell, Oakland
Women's All-League First Team
McKinley Fielding, Youngstown State
Anelise Egge, Milwaukee
Riley Tate, Purdue Fort Wayne
Eliza Bush, Oakland
Ana Crangle, Cleveland State
Caleigh Richards, Youngstown State
Julie Smith, IU Indianapolis
Men's All-League Second Team
Anthony Hancock, Oakland
Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis
Tobias Jones, Youngstown State
Sage Vavro, Youngstown State
Colin Murray, Detroit Mercy
Tyler Paszkowski, Robert Morris
Mason Gates, Green Bay
Women's All-League Second Team
Jenna Razavi, Youngstown State
Ava Genovese, Purdue Fort Wayne
Cianna Wipperfurth, Green Bay
Haileigh Bissett, Oakland
Maggie Foust, Northern Kentucky
Hannah DeRoeck
Nina Pizzo, Detroit Mercy
YSU's postseason march will continue at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championships on Fri, Nov. 14, at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course in Evansville, Ind.
For live updates and results throughout the 2025 season, follow @YSUTrackFieldXC on X.
