In a showcase of depth, the University of Saint Mary men's cross country team delivered a commanding performance to clinch first place at this weekend's meet, scoring just 25 points and placing all five scoring runners in the top nine. Their collective time of 25:42 was one of their fastest season openers at their home course.

Top Performers Lead the Charge

Senior Aleksandr Krikov set the tone early, blazing through the course in 25:15.4 to take the individual title. He was closely followed by teammate Kenneth Howell (25:17.1), giving Saint Mary a powerful 1-2 punch at the front of the pack. Freshman Derebe Carr impressed with a fifth-place finish (25:50.4), while Austin Howell (8th, 26:00.9) and Jonah Godina (9th, 26:01.6) rounded out the scoring five.

Their sixth and seventh runners, Kevin Nava and Prince Ntozo, finished 10th and 11th respectively, underscoring the team's extraordinary depth.

Benedictine Battles Hard

Benedictine College (Kan.) put up a strong fight, finishing second with 40 points and a team time of 26:06. Led by Sebastian Michael (3rd, 25:40.4) and Joshua Melendez (4th, 25:45.8), the Ravens kept pace early but couldn't match St. Mary's pack running late. Freshman Brendan Alfonso (6th, 25:54.8) added a crucial low stick, but the gap to their fourth and fifth scorers proved costly.

Evangel Rounds Out the Podium

Evangel University claimed third with 73 points, led by senior Ethan Montgomery (7th, 26:00.0). Despite solid mid-pack finishes from Blake Smith (12th) and Ethan Smith (16th), Evangel couldn't crack the top five and fell behind the front runners.

Depth Wins Championships

St. Mary's performance wasn't just about star power—it was about consistency. With 13 runners under 27:00 and several more close behind, the Spires demonstrated why they're a force to be reckoned with this season. Their ability to pack runners tightly and push the pace from the front made the difference.

Final Results Link - https://www.bandbracekc.com/_files/ugd/50097f_eb45bc27599242479b482ed8014c938b.pdf

Saint Mary Individual Results and Team Results