VU Cross Country divide and conquer big split weekend meets

Terre Haute, Ind. and Louisville, Ky. – The Vincennes University men's and women's Cross Country teams pulled double duty this weekend as members of the VU men's team took part in the Nike XC Town Twilight at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute Friday night, while the rest of the men's and women's teams headed to Louisville for the 2024 Live in Lou Classic Saturday.

The weekend started with members of the men's team taking the short trip to Terre Haute for a unique cross country race, racing under the lights at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course.

Vincennes was paced on the day by freshman Stephen Hershberger (Fowler, Ind.) who finished with a time of 29:04.25 to place 148th overall.

Freshman Hayden Kler (Hillsboro, Ind.) was the next across the line at 29;32.83 to take 169th overall and freshman Alex Kwizera (Indianapolis, Ind.) was close behind at 29:43.87 in 173rd place.

Freshmen Tucker Henson (Louisville, Ky.) and Dakoda Greci (Danville, Ind.) were the next VU finishers with Henson posting a time of 31:19.33 and Greci ending at 31:54.49.

The Trailblazers night on the course was rounded out by sophomore Max Pendley (French Lick, Ind.) who finished with a time of 32:11.53.

"The guys who were not racing in Louisville got to race under the lights at Terre Haute Friday," VU Head Cross Country Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "It was well worth the trip with four of the six guys coming away with a PR."

"Stephen improved by almost 50 seconds," Steigenga added. "Hayden had the fastest finish on the team, running almost a minute and a half faster. Alex did great in his first 8k of the year, finishing right after Hayden. Tucker managed to sneak under his old PR by two seconds."

"It was fun to come out here and race in such an awesome atmosphere and make sure the whole team got an opportunity to compete this weekend," Steigenga said.

The Trailblazers then completed their busy weekend Saturday at the 2024 Live in Lou Classic at Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville.

The VU men's team got the afternoon started in the Silver Race and were led by an outstanding performance by freshman Anis Abdaoui (Kairouan, Tunisia) who was the top scorer in the race and placed fourth overall with a time of 25:55.2.

Sophomore Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) was the next VU finisher, crossing the line with a time of 27:18.5 to take 30th overall.

Sophomores Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) and Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) were the next finishers, with Hostetler finishing just ahead of his teammate with a time of 27:56.4 and a time of 27:58.8 for Spence.

Freshman Kelvin Kipsang (Kapsabet, Kenya) rounded out the Vincennes scoring with a time of 28:23.0 to take 61st overall.

Sophomore Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) was right behind Kipsang with a time of 28:28.6, while sophomore Bryaun Manuel (East St. Louis, Ill.) and freshman Rylan Mullins (Greenwood, Ind.) posted times of 28:52.4 for Manuel and 29:05.6 for Mullins.

The VU men's team closed out the race with freshman Jeremy Delobel (Velpen, Ind.) coming through with a time of 29:27.3.

The Trailblazers finished fourth overall out of 21 teams in the race with a total of 139 points in the race with 189 finishers.

"Louisville is usually a pretty fast course but we got in the last race again this year, which usually ends up being during one of the hottest parts of the day," Steigenga said. "The times don't necessarily show it but we raced well despite the conditions."

"The men placed fourth overall as a team," Steigenga added. "We were in a good spot to finish third but Kelvin fell just after 6k and lost a minute and a half before he was able to resume his race. No one in our top six came away with a PR but the ones that ran this race last year all beat their previous bests on the course. Bryaun, Rylan and Jeremy all came away with PRs."

The VU women's team got to close out the weekend in the 5k Silver Race as freshman Sarra Belgacem (Tunis, Tunisia) set the tone for the team with a time of 20:13.5 and a 22nd place finish overall in a 205 runner field.

Freshman Allie Black (Lynn, Ind.) was the next runner across the line for the Trailblazers, finishing with a time of 21:36.5 to take 78th overall.

Sophomores Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) and Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.) finished neck and neck with Fuller coming out ahead by 0.4 seconds with a time of 21:54.2 to Self's 21.54.6.

The weekend came to a close for Vincennes with freshman Alexis Hale (Evansville, Ind.) crossing the line to finish with a time of 22:06.9.

The Vincennes women's team placed 12th overall out of 24 teams in their race.

"The women placed 12th as a team," Steigenga said. "Sarra did well, leading the team in her first 5k of the year. Adi got taken out from behind half a mile into the race and wasn't able to recover after that. Allie did a good job stepping up at the number two spot."

"Jasmyn and Alexis ran really well together, finishing right behind Adi," Steigenga added. "Alexis ran great coming off the sickness that kept her out of the last meet. I was really proud of how Jasmyn raced as she's only been training for five week and is already only 15 seconds off her PR."

The Trailblazer teams will now have two weeks to prepare for their next meet as the Blazers get set for their final regular season meet of the year at the Angel Mounds Invitational in Evansville Friday, Oct. 18.

VU will then get set for the postseason beginning with the NJCAA Cross Country Regionals in Normal, Ill. Thursday, Oct. 24 before heading to the NJCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships Saturday, Nov. 9 in Richmond, Va.

"It was great to see both teams be competitive in their races today," Steigenga said. "We will probably take a hit in the next polls based on the slower times but we will be ready in two weeks to hopefully take advantage of some nice fall Cross Country weather at Angel Mounds."

MEET RESULTS

NIKE XC TOWN TWILIGHT RESULTS

Stephen Hershberger (148) – 29:04.25

Hayden Kler (169) – 29:32.83

Alex Kwizera (!73) – 29:43.87

Tucker Henson (231) – 31:19.33

Dakoda Greci (235) – 31:54.49

Max Pendley (242) – 32:11.53

LIVE IN LOU CLASSIC RESULTS

MEN'S RESULTS

VU – 4th, 139 points

Anis Abdaoui (4) – 25:55.2

Cody Noel (30) – 27:18.5

Caden Hostetler (48) – 27:56.4

Tanner Spence (50) – 27:58.8

Kelvin Kipsang (61) – 28:23.0

Nathan Whitehead (63) – 28:28.6

Bryaun Manuel (72) – 28:52.4

Rylan Mullins (83) – 29:05.6

Jeremy Delobel (100) – 29:27.3

WOMEN'S RESULTS

VU – 12th, 308 points

Sarra Belgacem (22) – 20:13.5

Allie Black (78) – 21:36.5

Adi Fuller (82) – 21:54.2

Jasmyn Self (83) – 21:54.6

Alexis Hale (90) – 22:06.9