Oregon’s cross country teams opened the season with strong showings at two different meets on Friday, highlighted by multiple top-15 finishes and a handful of promising debuts.
At the Mizzou Opener in Columbia, Missouri, sophomore Sergio Del Barrio paced the Ducks with a third-place finish on the 5K course that will host November’s NCAA Championships. He crossed the line in 14:54, leading a trio of top-15 finishers for the men. Jack Meier, making his Oregon debut, clocked 15:14.7 for 12th place, while
Will Heslam followed close behind in 14th at 15:16. Both Meier and Heslam were competing in cross country for the first time in an Oregon uniform. The Ducks added depth with Ben Greene in 21st and Cain Evans in 22nd, ultimately placing third in the team standings behind host Missouri and Saint Louis.
Meanwhile in Orem, Utah, the women took to the course at Scera Park for the UVU Invitational. Sophomores Ella Thorsett and Katie Clute set the tone, crossing the finish line nearly together in fourth and fifth place at 17:22.64 and 17:22.66, respectively. Both are coming off strong track campaigns, with Thorsett qualifying for the NCAA West First Round in the 1500 meters and Clute doing the same in the steeplechase. They were joined in the top 20 by redshirt freshman Liliana Hudnut, who impressed in her debut with an 18:15 performance for 19th place.
Full Results
Mizzou Opener (men, 5K) – Columbia, Mo.
3. Sergio Del Barrio – 14:54.0 (2)
12. Jack Meier – 15:14.7 (8)
14. Will Heslam – 15:16.0 (10)
21. Ben Greene – 15:42.4 (15)
22. Cain Evans – 15:43.4 (16)
1. Missouri – 26
2. Saint Louis – 45
3. OREGON – 51
4. Wisconsin – 100
UVU Invitational (women, 3M) – Orem, Utah
4. Ella Thorsett – 17:22.64 (4)
5. Katie Clute – 17:22.66 (5)
19. Liliana Hudnut – 18:15.48 (17)
43. Landen LeBlond – 19:21.58 (39)
51. Hannah Seubert – 19:35.77 (46)
57. Allura Markow – 19:57.88 (52)
Up Next
The season is just getting started, but both teams showed encouraging depth and early form. Next up, the men head to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for the Cowboy Jamboree, while the women will travel to Columbia for the Gans Creek Classic, giving them their own first look at the NCAA championship course. The Ducks return home October 10 to host the Bill Dellinger Invitational.
