Men's Cross Country | 9/2/2026 7:30:00 PM

(Flagstaff, Ariz. - Sept. 2 2026) - The Trailblazer cross country teams opened the 2026 season on Wednesday afternoon posting a pair of top three team finishes at the NAU George Kyte Classic hosted at Buffalo Park.

Led by a pair of top 15 performances, the men finished second while the women placed third. In addition to Big Sky foe Northern Arizona, the Trailblazers also competed against Grand Canyon, Embry-Riddle and Coconino CC.

Getting the afternoon started with the men's 4.5 mile run, the Trailblazers were led by Flagstaff native Ryan Hatch with a 10th-place finish tallying a time of 23:02.2.

Four newcomers came in next for the Trailblazers with junior Brady Eager finishing 16th (23:26.0) followed by sophomore Brett Bailey in 18th (23:27.4), freshman Benjamin Fernandez in 20th (23:35.1) and junior Carter Day right behind Fernandez in 21st with a time of 23:35.7.

On the women's side, senior Averie Perriton was the top finisher coming in 13th finish covering the 2.5 mile course in 15:26.5.

Six more Trailblazers finished in the top 25 led by fifth year Makayla Pitcher placing 19th (15:55.4) followed by freshman Ashlynn Lainhart in 21st (15:57.5), senior Adri Bird in 22nd (15:58.2), junior Makayla Boulton in 23rd (16:09.2) and freshmen Maya Parker (16:10.8) & Talia Anderson (16:11.9) in 24th & 25th, respectively.

Utah Tech returns to action at the UC Riverside Invitational in California on Sept. 19.

Men's 4.5 Miles Results
10. Ryan Hatch - 23:02.2
16. Brady Eager - 23:26.0
18. Brett Bailey - 23:27.4
20. Benjamin Fernandez - 23:35.1
21. Carter Day - 23:35.7
23. Aiden Hardy - 23:38.3
37. Dennis Speaks - 24:10.0
39. Payton Wilkins - 24:13.9
48. Joey Hartnett - 24:52.3
50. Collin Manning - 25:00.9
58. Carter Frost - 25:46.1
59. Tyler Mullins - 25:50.2

Team Scores
1. Northern Arizona - 15
2. Utah Tech - 68
3. Embry-Riddle - 74
4. Grand Canyon - 92
5. Coconino CC - 149

Women's 2.5 Miles Results
13. Averie Perriton - 15:26.5
19. Makayla Pitcher - 15:55.4
21. Ashlynn Lainhart - 15:57.5
22. Adri Bird - 15:58.2
23. Makayla Boulton - 16:09.2
24. Maya Parker - 16:10.8
25. Talia Anderson - 16:11.9
26. Natalie Roberts - 16:12.5
28. Kambrie Wilkinson - 16:24.9
30. Hailee Phillips - 16:27.2
31. Camryn Delancey - 16:30.6
35. Charly Murie - 16:53.9
38. Lucy Melzer - 17:04.6
40. Erin McKinnon - 17:31.3
42. Reese Moss - 17:54.4

Team Scores
1. Northern Arizona - 15
2. Grand Canyon - 74
3. Utah Tech - 78
4. Embry-Riddle - 84
5. Coconino CC - 155