The Notre Dame cross country team showcased an impressive performance at the Joe Piane Invitational held at Burke Golf Course on Friday. Established in 1956 under the direction of head coach Alex Wilson and renamed in 2015 to honor the long-standing contributions of Joe Piane, this year’s event featured 18 competing teams in both men’s and women’s categories.
Irish Teams Achieve Historic Victory
In a remarkable display of athleticism, both the men’s and women’s teams emerged victorious, marking the first time since 2003 that Notre Dame swept the event. The men’s team secured the title in the 8k race with a total of 40 points, while Boise State and Wyoming followed with scores of 71 and 125 points, respectively. The women’s team claimed victory in the 5k race with an impressive score of 29 points, outpacing South Carolina at 47 points and Boise State at 108 points.
Men’s Race Highlights
Notably, four Notre Dame runners finished in the top eight of the men’s race, contributing significantly to the team’s overall success. Junior Ethan Coleman led the Irish, finishing second overall with a personal best time of 22:40.6, improving his previous mark by nearly nine seconds. Junior Izaiah Steury followed closely, capturing fifth place with a time of 22:53.7. Additionally, senior Dylan Throop and junior Daelen Ackley secured seventh and eighth place finishes, both completing the race in under 23 minutes. Cincinnati’s Nickson Kogei claimed first place, finishing just ahead of Coleman with a time of 22:39.4.
Women’s Race Performance
In the women’s 5k race, sophomore Mary Bonner Dalton highlighted the competition by clinching the individual title with a remarkable time of 15:53.1. This achievement not only earned her first place but also set a new record for the invite, surpassing the previous best by four seconds. Bonner’s victory is particularly notable as it marks the first time since 2016 that a woman from Notre Dame has taken the individual title in this event.
The Irish women’s team also placed four additional runners in the top 10, with freshman Amaya Aramini finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place with a personal best of 16:01.3. Rounding out the top finishes, junior Gretchen Farley came in seventh at 16:10.6, senior Siona Chisholm eighth at 16:12.9, and sophomore Arianne Olson ninth with a time of 16:13.5.
Rankings and Upcoming Competitions
As a result of their strong performances, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has ranked the Notre Dame men’s team at No. 9 nationally and No. 2 in the Great Lakes Region. The women’s team currently holds the No. 10 spot nationally and ranks No. 1 in their region.
The Notre Dame cross country teams will continue to compete on October 17 at the Nuttycombe Invitational in Wisconsin and at the Bradley Pink Classic.
