By Marissa Masano / The Jambar
After being picked to finish first and second in the Horizon League preseason poll, the Youngstown State University men’s and women’s cross country teams officially opened its 2025 seasons at the Mastodon Alumni Open on Sept. 6.
Hosted by league opponent Purdue University Fort Wayne, the meet featured 22 Penguins who competed in the 5K — 12 on the men’s side and 10 on the women’s side.
The men’s squad turned in a group performance, with 11 runners who finished the race consecutively. In his YSU debut, redshirt freshman Ethan Cope led the Penguins with a time of 16:51.2 to finish 27th.
Redshirt juniors Owen Brady and Blaze Fichter, along with junior Noah Johnson, followed closely, each finishing in 16:51.4. Graduate student Beau Gorby crossed the line next, placing 31st with a time of 16:51.5.
Redshirt junior Connor Shingleton, junior Zac Haley and sophomore Patrick Burgos each ran a 16:51.6, with sophomore Brock Farris just milliseconds behind at 16:51.6 to claim 35th place.
Junior Josh Jones and redshirt junior Thomas Hunyadi finished with identical times of 16:51.9 to place 36th and 37th, respectively. Junior Trenton Shutters rounded out YSU’s lineup, placing 52nd with a time of 17:34.4.
As a team, the Penguins finished third with 90 points. Host Purdue Fort Wayne finished the meet with 19 points to take first place. Mastodon senior Harrison Niswander finished individually in 15:10.6 — a new program record by five seconds.
The 2025 season debut comes after high preseason recognition, as the men were named the 2025 Under Armour Horizon League Cross Country preseason favorites. The defending conference champions aim to extend the longest championship streak in program history.
For the women’s squad, Sophomore Caleigh Richards, the reigning Horizon League Cross Country Freshman of the Year, led the team with a 26th-place finish in 20:00. Senior Jenna Razavi followed behind to place 28th with a time of 20:00.2.
Junior Kenzy Backett led a consecutive pack of seven Penguins, after a finish in 41st with a time of 21:07.2. Senior Molly Hopple took 42nd with 21:07.4. In her first race since 2022, senior Carly Hall placed 43rd in 21:07.5.
Sophomore Megan Stafford followed in 44th with a time of 21:07.6, while sophomores Lauren Runion and Linsey Plant, along with freshman Lillian Katsaras, all finished in 21:16.6. Sophomore Breanna Joki concluded the women’s effort, as she crossed the finish line at 21:44.2.
The women’s team placed fourth overall with 117 points. Trine University won the event with 30 points and Purdue Fort Wayne senior Riley Tate claimed the individual title with the fastest time of 17:54.5.
The Penguins will return to the Mastodon Cross Country Course at the end of the season for the Horizon League Championships, but for now, the programs set their sights on the YSU Invitational Cross Country Meet on Sept. 20.