RIVERSIDE -- The UC Riverside cross country course is fast because of the packed dirt the runners advance on, and after posting season-best times across the board last year, the VU women again set some blistering marks.
Kaitlyn Smith's terrific form continued, as she set a new career-best time of 20:59.3 Saturday morning, shattering the previous 6K program record and placing 34th to lead the Blue and Gold. The Lions placed 19th as a team out of the 30 teams present, including 18 DI programs, and dropped their team time by 16 seconds. The Lions came close to breaking the school record for a 6K event that was set at last year's UCR race, but the lineup came in just one second short of that feat. UC Irvine took the team and the individual titles.
What Happened? Smith was the fifth DII runner to cross the line, with three Biola athletes and one Cal Poly Pomona member ahead of her, though she bested all of the participants from CUI and Point Loma.
Ella Murray had a strong showing despite her finishing position of 105th, as she set a 21:41.5, her fastest time of the season and better than all but two of her 6K times from last season.
Madyson Nakamura was 129th across the line with a 21:48.7, while
Zoe Tavares was 137th after netting a time of 21:52.4, just a second and change off her time from the first event of the season.
Hailey Quiroz was 182nd today with a 22:19, easily setting a new career-best by 40-plus seconds.
Emily Noyes (208th) has turned up her pace in 2026, as she again lowered her career-best time to 22:39.5 this morning, about two seconds faster than her Cal State Fullerton time two weekends ago.
Haley Butenschoen was 229th but also had a PR as he entered the 22-minute window for the first time in her career, ending in a time of 22:57.2.
Brady Wylie had a 23:19.3 in 245th, and
Madison McGarvey rounded out the VU runners after netting a stamp of 23:28.5 in 252nd, five seconds better than her first collegiate race.
What was Said? "I am very pleased with the performances of our athletes today," said Head Coach
Bryan Wilkins. "We raced with confidence, had solid race tactics, and we had several personal bests! All-in-all, a really good step forward for us."
What's Next? Another week of rest and practice before the squads build towards the TMU Invitational on October 3.
