POMONA, Calif. -- Ella Murray led the Vanguard women's cross country team to another great finish on Saturday morning as she became the first individual champion for VU since now assistant coach
Kate Baranski won the VU Invite in 2023. She is also the first women to win on that course in program history. Murray's time of 21:49.6 was her second-fastest time of 2026 and beat second place by around 18 seconds. The Lions had three placers in the top 10 and netted 45 points as a team to place second behind the hosts Pomona-Pitzer. VU beat preseason Pacific West Conference favorites Biola by about 10 minutes in the total team time.
"I'm so proud of this team; how we show up for one another, and we all get to do it as worship!! Such a great race to get in as we continue to prepare for the conference meet," relayed Murray
What Happened? After Murray was
Zoe Tavares, who crossed the line in 22:24.7 in sixth to collect the best finishing spot in her career.
Madyson Nakamura was three seconds behind her in eighth, matching her time from last week and equaling her career-best placement, which came at the VU Invite last year (a 5K). The PacWest Runner of the Week,
Kaitlyn Smith, had a 22:55.8 in 14th, and
Giselle Rubio had a time of 23:06.3 to end 17th, putting down her second-fastest time of the year and her best career placement in a 6K race.
Emily Noyes and
Hailey Quiroz were next up for the Blue and Gold, with Noyes in 22nd and Quiroz in 27th. Noyes had a mark of 23:29.4 and Quiroz a 23:44.7, with each grabbing career (6K course) and season-best placements.
Haley Butenschoen was in 38th (24:12.1) for her best placement in her career at the 6K distance, the same for
Madison McGarvey (24:21.5, 45th),
Brady Wylie (24:23, 47th),
Chase Sullivan (24:42.5, season-best time, 53rd),
Kaitlyn Barragan (25:22.8, 74th),
Asha Digiambattista (25.32.7, 77th),
Adrianna Huffstuttler (25.34, 79th), and
Jordan Wylie (25:57.9, 81st).
"Our ladies had another very solid race today," said Head Coach
Bryan Wilkins. "They showed perseverance in their effort and resoluteness in positivity and joy. All glory to God!"
What's Next? The season has one race left before the Pacific West Championships, as VU heads to CSU Fullerton for a late afternoon/early evening race.
