RESULTS

DENVER, Colo. – Mines cross country was dominant in its 2022 season opener at the Roadrunners Invitational at Washington Park as the Oredigger men and women swept the team titles and grabbed both individual gold medals Saturday morning.
 
Steven Goldy guided Mines' men, ranked #2 in the nation, to a first-place team finish as he crossed the line #1 in the collegiate field made up of 131 runners. His 8,000-meter time of 23:45.6 shattered the meet record of 24:17 previously held by teammate Chris Cathcart. Oredigger newcomer Jenna Ramsey led Mines' women, ranked #5 in the nation, to their team title by finishing first in a field of 136 competitors. Her 6,000-meter pace came in at 21:31.5.
 
In the team standings, Mines' men edged #30 CSU Pueblo with 28 points compared to the ThunderWolves' 39. Mines' women came one runner shy of a perfect team score, posting 17 points for a runaway victory over #18 CSU Pueblo which accumulated 65 points in second place.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The day started with the collegiate men's 8K race under clear skies with cool temperatures and only a slight breeze. At the sound of the starter's gun, Goldy and Paul Knight charged towards the front of the pack and remained there for the duration of the race. As lead group rolled through the second 3K loop, Goldy and Knight had opened up a significant lead over the rest of the field. Goldy surged even further in front of Knight down the home stretch and flashed his signature smile as he crossed the finish line. Knight made it a #1, #2 finish for the Orediggers as he kicked to a 23:49.6 mark, just four seconds back of Goldy.
 
Alberto Campa (24:18.8) was the third scorer for Mines scorer at #8. Brock Drengenberg (24:42.2) and Alex Shaw (24:26.1) crossed #12 and #13, respectively. Ethan Grolinic (24:29.5) finished #15. Max Bonenberger (24:43.8) served as Mines' #7 runner, finishing #20. After that, Jeremiah Vaille (24:51.7) crossed #23, Matt Mettler (25:06.7) was #33, Jonathan Woolf (25:40.9) was #45, and Joseph Pearlman (#54) rounded out those wearing an Oredigger uniform by finishing #54.
 
After Mines' men set the tone for the day and the season, the Oredigger women absolutely stole the show. Clare Peters stormed off the line and set the pace for the field at the very front. Zoe Baker, Molly Maksin and Jenna Ramsey joined her in the lead group within the first 2,000 meters. As the race progressed, Dallas Baptist's Madison Brown stuck with the Orediggers at the front, but Mines never faltered. Coming down the home stretch and across the finishing mat, it was Ramsey #1 and Baker (21:40.2) #2, less than nine seconds behind her teammate. Maksin (21:47.0) made it a 1-2-3, Oredigger finish at #3.
 
Dallas Baptist's Brown kept Mines from the perfect team score, but it was academic with Peters (21:50.3) and Holly Moser (21:54.5) crossing #5 and #6. Rounding out the top-seven for Colorado School of Mines were Alayna Szuch (22:29.0) and Margaux Basart (22:34.6) at #12 and #13, respectively. The remaining individuals wearing an Oredigger uniform were Grace Strongman (23:19.5) at #23, Ashleigh Loe (23:24.7) at #28, Alex Raichart (23:28.7) at #30, and Gabriela Kenly (24:54.8) finishing #76.
 
NOTABLES
- Saturday marked the 12th running of the Roadrunners Invitational and the second consecutive year that Mines swept both team titles.
- Ramsey's first-place finish came in her first race wearing a Mines uniform after transferring from Emporia State in Kansas. Her time ranks #8 all-time in Roadrunners Invitational history.
- Peters also made her Oredigger debut as a transfer after competing for the running club at North Carolina State.
- Additional collegiate debuts for Mines' women included Basart, Strongman, Loe, and Kenly.
- The Oredigger men ran 11 individuals in uniform. Their combined average time over 8,000 meters was 24:08.
- Saturday's meet was the first collegiate cross country race in a Mines uniform for Knight, Campa, Drengenberg, and Grolnic.
- It was also the first fall race for Shaw, Bonenberger, Vaille, Mettler, and Pearlman since they debuted at the 5675 Time Trials on Stermole Track in 2020.
- There were a combined 26 teams entered in Saturday's collegiate races. Including Mines, nine were ranked in the nation's top-25. None came within single digits of either Oredigger team score.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines will take a week off from competition before traveling to Colorado Springs on Oct. 1 for the Ted Castaneda Classic hosted by Colorado College. A full preview and live coverage information will be released at www.minesathletics.com the week of the event.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines cross country on Twitter and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.