(Abilene, Texas - Oct. 27, 2023) - The Utah Tech men's cross country team finished fifth and the women's team took seventh at the WAC Cross Country Championships on Friday morning at Zoe Park.

Getting started with the men's 8K, the Trailblazers had a new top men's finisher with freshman Ryan Newton clocking a time of 24:47.90 to finish 22nd overall. The Salem, Ore., native raced to the fifth-fastest 8K time in program history and was one of 26 runners to break the 25-minute mark.

After being Utah Tech's top men's finisher in all four races in the regular season, freshman Kyle Neuenschwander checked in 31st (25:11.90) followed by Julien Canales, Quinton Read, Trent Holiday, Dawson Leffler, Nick Roach and Stoney Cutchen.

California Baptist, ranked No. 5 in the nation, claimed the championship with 17 points followed by Utah Valley (57 pts.), Southern Utah (67 pts.) & UT Arlington (152 pts.).  With the Blazers taking fifth, Tarleton State, Grand Canyon, Abilene Christian, Stephen F. Austin, UT Rio Grande Valley and Seattle rounded out the team finishers on the men's side.

On the women's side, senior Shakayla Morgan was the Trailblazers top finisher in the 6K placing 25th in a time of 22:04.0. The Blazers saw back-to-back finishes by Lexi Larsen and Mariah Skinner in 42nd and 43rd place with Alyssa Laspada, Averie Perriton, Rylee Jacobsen, Maci Day and Erin McKinnon rounding out the finishers for Utah Tech.

Utah Valley edged out California Baptist for the women's title followed by UT Arlington, Southern Utah, Grand Canyon & Seattle in the top six spots. After the Trailblazers came in seventh, the field was rounded out by Stephen F. Austin, Abilene Christian, Tarleton State and UT Rio Grande Valley.

Men's 8K Results

• 22. Ryan Newton - 24:47.90 - 5th-fastest in program history
• 31. Kyle Neuenschwander - 25:11.90
• 40. Julien Canales - 25:31.90
• 42. Quinton Read - 25:34.70
• 43. Trent Holiday - 25:39.20
• 47. Dawson Leffler - 25:46.80
• 58. Nick Roach - 26:15.50
• 69. Stoney Cutchen - 26:55.10

Men's Team Results

1. California Baptist - 17 points
2. Utah Valley - 57 points
3. Southern Utah - 67 points
4. UT Arlington - 152 points
5. Utah Tech - 165 points
6. Tarleton State - 166 points
7. Grand Canyon - 207 points
8. Abilene Christian - 213 points
9. Stephen F. Austin - 215 points
10. UT Rio Grande Valley - 255 points
11. Seattle - 306 points

Women's 6K Results

• 25. Shakayla Morgan - 22:04.0
• 42. Lexi Larsen - 22:58.3
• 43. Mariah Skinner - 23:01.4
• 50. Alyssa Laspada - 23:14.1
• 55. Averie Perriton - 23:23.7
• 64. Rylee Jacobsen - 23:39.5
• 74. Maci Day - 24:25.9
• 79. Erin McKinnon - 25:06.8

Women's Team Results

1. Utah Valley - 30 points
2. California Baptist - 36 points
3. UT Arlington - 92 points
4. Southern Utah - 115 points
5. Grand Canyon - 134 points
6. Seattle - 192 points
7. Utah Tech - 200 points
8. Stephen F. Austin - 216 points
9. Abilene Christian - 247 points
10. Tarleton State - 303 points
11. UT Rio Grande Valley - 306 points