Joanna Orban
Staff writer
The Idaho State cross-country teams look to have players who are returning lead the Bengals for their 2019 season. Every year before the cross-country season starts, officials through Big Sky Conference review each school’s teams and take polls on where they predict each team will end up at the end of the season.
In the pre-season conference polls, ISU women’s team was voted to place in seventh out of 11 schools in the Big Sky Conference. The women’s team is made up of fourteen athletes this year, seven of which are returning. Back from last season is senior Rachel McGovern, who in the 2018-2019 season placed first in the 5,000-meter race at the Jackson’s Invite. Also returning are Laura Alicke, Beth Hickey, Mary Kate Marshall, Molly Olsen, Alex Orr, and Katie Weedn. Joining the women’s team this season are seven freshman.
On the men’s side, the cross-country team was voted to place in sixth overall. The men’s team is made up of ten athletes, eight of which are returners, they include Bryce Balenseifen, Garret Condelario, D’Artangnan Kilgore, Spencer Nelson, Joseph Petty, Joseph Simmons, and Matt Stark. Also returning is Jesse Allen, who in last year’s indoor season won the 3,000-meter race at the Stacy Dragila Invite.
Both the men and women cross country teams were in Orem, Utah on Saturday, Aug. 31 to start their season at the Vivint Cross Country Invitational. Their coach, Nathan Houle, considers this meet a pre-season contest. Because this is the first meet of the season, Houle is focusing on the student-athletes individually, comparing this year’s times to times recorded last year and getting a feel for how the athletes are going to look this season. Houle wants this race to be low pressure on the athletes in order for them to get their footing as they start their season.
Represented at the Vivint Cross Country Invitational were the following schools, Utah Valley University, Southern Utah University and Idaho State University. Also represented was the University of Utah, and Georgia State University, both of whom only brought women teams.
Idaho State’s men’s team came in second place at the invitational, with three of the team’s athletes placing in the top ten. D’Artagnan Kilgore led the ISU pack with a time of 16 minutes and thirteen seconds. He placed sixth place overall. The women’s team placed fourth, with several athletes placing in the top twenty-five.
Both the men and women’s team will compete next on Sept. 21 at the Bozeman Running Co. Invitational in Bozeman, Montana. Following the invitational in Bozeman both teams will be here in Pocatello on Sept. 28, to run in the Idaho State University Invitational. That race will be held on the Centennial Course.
After their home race the Bengals head down to Cedar City Utah where they will run in the Color Country Invitational. Their last race of the season will take place at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas. They will then race in two championships, the Big Sky Conference Championship as well as the NCAA Mountain Region Championships.
Be sure you support your Bengal cross country team by following them on Instagram @idahostatetrackandxc and by attending their race here in Pocatello on Sept. 28. You can also follow @isuathletics on Instagram to stay up to date on all campus sport teams.
