The Youngstown State men's and women's cross-country programs are set to compete in the first of two home meets this month, with the YSU Invitational Cross Country Meet this Saturday.
Course Information
The Brian, Charlotte, Jersey, Beau Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course at MetroParks Farm
7574 Columbiana-Canfield Rd., Canfield, OH 44406
Note: Spectator Parking is $10.
Women's Preview
The Youngstown State women will hit the course first with their 5K race beginning at 10 a.m.
The five women competing for YSU are: Maggie Hopple, Breanna Joki, Linsey Plant, Lauren Runion, and Claire Von Boetticher.
The Penguin women are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Mastodon Alumni Open on Sept. 6. Reigning Horizon League Cross Country Women's Freshman of the Year Caleigh Richards led the way for YSU with a 26th-place finish, running a 5K time of 20:00.0. She was followed by Jenna Razavi, who finished 28th with a time of 20:00.2. The next seven 'Guins finished consecutively, as Kenzy Beckett placed 41st with a time of 21:07.2, Molly Hopple finished 42nd with a time of 21:07.4, Carly Hall finished 43rd with a time of 21:07.5 in her first XC race representing YSU since 2022, and Megan Stafford crossed the line in 21:07.6, finishing 44th. Lillian Katsaras was the next runner to finish, crossing the line just less than 10 seconds later at 21:16.6, finishing 45th, followed by Linsey Plant and Lauren Runion, who also finished with the same time but finished 46th and 47th, respectively. Breanna Joki rounded out the Penguins with a 50th-place finish, clocking a time of 21:44.2.
Men's Preview
The Youngstown State men will race later in the morning upon the completion of the women's race. The men will compete at approximately 10:45 a.m.
The seven men competing for YSU are: Blake Baker, Brock Farris, Zac Haley, Thomas Hunyadi, Noah Johnson, Josh Jones, and Trenton Shutters.
The Penguin men are coming off a third-place finish at the Mastodon Alumni Open on Sept. 6. YSU ran as a pack for the entirety of their 5K race, with 11 of the 12 Penguins that competed finishing consecutively. Ethan Cope paced the 'Guins with a time of 16:51.2, finishing 27th. Owen Brady and Blaze Fichter finished tied for 28th, each running a time of 16:51.4, followed by Noah Johnson, who finished 30th with the same time. Beau Gorby finished 31st with a time of 16:51.5, while Connor Shingleton, Zac Haley, and Patrick Burgos finished 31-32-33 as they each ran a time of 16:51.6. Brock Farris finished 35th with a time of 16:51.7, followed by Josh Jones in 36th (16:51.9), Thomas Hunyadi in 37th (16:51.9), and Trenton Shutters rounded out the Penguins with a 52nd-place finish, clocking a time of 17:34.4.
Penguin Men Ranked Eighth in USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional Rankings
The men were listed as the top-ranked Horizon League team and second-highest ranked team in the state of Ohio in the latest USTFCCCA Great Lakes Regional Rankings, which were released Sept. 15. YSU is ranked eighth, with fellow Horizon League schools IU Indy (12th) and Oakland (15th) also cracking the list. Ohio State is the top-ranked school in Ohio, coming in at sixth.
Competing Teams (Male/Female)
Clarion (F), Duquesne (F), Fairmont State (M/F), Gannon (M/F), Pitt-Johnstown (M/F), Seton Hill (M/F), Youngstown State (M/F)
Up Next
The Penguins will be back in action next weekend at their home course once again when they host another YSU Invitational Cross Country Meet at the Gorby Family Championships Cross Country Course in Canfield. The women will race at 10 a.m., with the men following at approximately 10:45 a.m.
