Youngstown State University
Notre Dame Joe Piane Gold & Blue Invitational
Penguins Return to South Bend for National Test
9/30/2026 10:30:00 AM | Cross Country
Back on the road, the Youngstown State men's and women's cross country teams will travel to South Bend, Ind., to compete at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational on Friday.
Women's Preview
Fifteen women will make the trip to compete in the Blue Division and Open Division. The Blue Division's 5K begins at 10 a.m., with the Open Division 5K starting at 11:20 a.m.
McKinley Fielding makes her 2026 debut in the Elite Blue Race. The 2025 Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year currently sits second in program history in the 5K after posting a time of 16:59.3 at last season's Joe Piane Invitational.
Maggie Hopple, Lillian Katsaras, Caleigh Richards and Megan Stafford, who all competed in last season's invitational, are set to return to the national race. Richards' 5K time of 17:18.7 at last year's invitational sits fourth all-time in the Penguins' record book.
The following women are also set to compete: Cecelia Chase, Claire von Boetticher, Brenna Bosley, Erica Kaulen, Olivia Komperda, Karis McElhaney, Linsey Plant, Lauren Runion, Brady Sterbling and Julia Wheeler.
Men's Preview
The men's team will consist of 15 runners between the Blue Division race and Open Division race. The Elite Blue Race 8K will start at 10:40 a.m., followed by the Open Division at 11:20 a.m.
Owen Brady, Patrick Burgos, Ethan Cope, Brock Farris, Blaze Fichter, Josh Jones, Connor Shingleton and Sage Vavro return to South Bend after competing at the Notre Dame Invitational during the 2025 season.
Burgos paced the Penguins in last year's race with an 8K time of 23:38.9, the third-fastest mark in program history, while Brady clocked 23:49.3, which ranks sixth all-time at YSU.
The following men are also set to compete: Blake Baker, Thomas Hunyadi, MJ Pottinger, Caleb Prettyman, Maddox Roach, Owen Scott and Tyce Shaner.
Last Time Out
The Penguins concluded their lone home meet at the Gorby Family Championship Cross Country Course on Sept. 26 when they hosted the YSU Collegiate Invitational. The men's and women's teams both posted runner-up finishes.
Kaulen was the top-finishing Penguin on the women's team for the second consecutive race. She posted a third-place finish with a new collegiate-best 6K time of 22:03.34 and was named the Under Armour #HLXC Women's Runner and Freshman of the Week for the second time in her collegiate career.
Pottinger led the men's side and recorded a career-best fourth-place finish with a new collegiate-best 8K time of 26:34.24. For his efforts, he was named the Under Armour #HLXC Men's Freshman Runner of the Week, his first recognition from the league.
The Course
The invitational will take place at the Burke Golf Course and Cross Country Course.
The Field
Women's Blue Division
Akron
Belmont
Bradley
Butler
Clemson
Dayton
Grand Valley
Illinois State
Indiana
Indiana State
Miami (Fla.)
North Carolina State
Notre Dame
Saint Louis
San Francisco
South Carolina
St Thomas (Minn.)
Texas State
Western Michigan
Youngstown State
Men's Blue Division
Akron
Belmont
Bradley
Central Michigan
Clemson
Eastern Michigan
Grand Valley
Illinois State
Indiana
Indiana State
IU-Indianapolis
Miami (Fla.)
North Carolina State
Notre Dame
San Francisco
St Thomas (Minn.)
Texas-San Antonio
Youngstown State
