Leavenworth, Kan.— The University of Saint Mary Spires Cross-Country teams have wrapped up yet another hugely successful season under the guidance of head coach
Alstin Benton, who took over the successful Spire program during the 2014-2015 season. Benton's tenure has seen substantial success, establishing the Spires as a force to be reckoned with in collegiate XC and Track & Field.
This season, the Spire women's team marked its sixth consecutive year among the top 10 teams nationally. Simultaneously, the men's team impressively placed in the top 11 for the ninth consecutive year. Notable individual performances were highlighted by senior
Josie Tyrrell— 3x KCAC XC Runner of the Week—set a new record at the KCAC XC Championships with a time of 21:40 in the 6K race, earned a top-20 finish at the NAIA XC Nationals, and justly received her All-American recognition. On the men's side, senior
Kenneth Howell led his team with exceptional results, cruising into second place at the KCAC Cross-Country Championships and finishing in the top 40 at the NAIA National Meet, gaining his All-American status.
This season saw significant contributions from athletes across all class standings, with runners stepping up from freshman
Derebe Carr and
James White III, and senior
Aleksandr Krikov and
Prince Ntozo, along with junior
Brayden Marcotte. These athletes built on the Spires' strong tradition of cross-country excellence and look to take all their hard work into the quickly approaching track & field season.
USM Indoor Track & Field is preparing for their action-packed year filled with promising competitions and high aspirations for Spire athletes. Benton and his staff has a history of fostering excellence among their athletes, evident from last season's achievements where 11 men's outdoor track & field athletes were sent to the NAIA national tournament, achieving multiple top 20 finishes and made strong statements on the national stage on the women's side with two individual national titles in returner
Carly Holadia and USM alum
Liam Neidig's national championship in the 1000-meter run and six All-American accolades between the men's and women's programs. Last season's highlights also included Neidig being awarded the 2025 NAIA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Scholar Track Athlete of the Year, a prestigious recognition that marks the third occasion a male athlete from USM has won this honor.
With the season's opening weekend right around the corner, the team promises exciting performances. Coach Benton explains how this initial meet will provide a solid indicator of the athletes' forms heading into the rigorous yet thrilling season ahead.
The team boasts strong talents across various disciplines, with returners like thrower Rob Henning and sprinter Jordan Miller-Knuckles, alongside newcomers like
Emily Struckman, poised to make significant contributions. The Spire roster also includes talented athletes such as Des Cooper,
Riley Gibbs, Marion Udell, and
Noah Arndt, each ready to excel in their respective categories. Benton sums up the sentiment going into the season, noting the importance of the early competitions in setting the tone for the rest of the year.
The wait is almost over track fans, your Spire Indoor Track & Field team is set to compete this Saturday, December 6
th at the Mel Tjeerdsma Classic at Northwest Missouri State. Follow along with all the action on Saturday using the live stats link below. USM looks forward to seeing their athletes' hard work paying off in the upcoming 2025-2026 indoor season.
Live Stats for Northwest Missouri State Meet: Mel Tjeerdsma Classic - Dec 6, 2025 | Black Squirrel Timing
