The ASU cross country teams opened their seasons with a tune-up at the George Kyte Invitational Saturday in Flagstaff.
The men’s team notched a runner-up finish behind host NAU in the 8000-meter race, while the women finished third behind NAU and UA in their 5000-meter race.
The men’s team, composed largely of runners Coach Louie Quintana wanted a closer look at, was led by redshirt sophomore Noah Shannon, who transferred to ASU after spending last season at the University of Wisconsin.
Quintana said he kept the reigns on the men for more than half of the race, during which time NAU opened up a sizable lead.
However, after Quintana let the team loose for the last two miles, Shannon erased a large part of that lead, moving from 30th place to finish ninth.
“He had a great last two miles,” Quintana said. “He’s going to be a great help (this season).”
Shannon was followed by two redshirt freshmen, Daniel Lovell in 12th and Thomas Petersen in 14th.
The goal for the women’s team, Quintana said, was to put in what he called a “hard session” so his runners could “begin to gel as a team.”
“The women went up there and accomplished what we went up there for,” Quintana said. “They stayed together for the whole race.”
He rested sophomore Kari Hardt, arguably team’s top runner, but took his seven best women after that. Quintana said although they finished third, he liked what he saw.
“(It was) less about racing,” Quintana said. “They did a great job running together.”
They were led by redshirt sophomore Whitney Blue, who finished 16th. The rest of her teammates trailed just seconds of her pace, taking 17th through 22nd place.
“It was fantastic,” Quintana said. “They weren’t even breathing that hard.”
The teams’ next race will be in Tucson Sept. 19 for the Dave Murray Invitational in Tucson, where Quintana said they will race their top teams.
“We’re excited for a harder race,” Quintana said. “We’ll have a full squad.
“We can’t wait to get after it.”
Reach the reporter at cyrus.karimi@asu.edu.
