Mutai Wins Grand Canyon Invite

Saturday, October 8

Goodyear, AZ @ Estrella Mountain Park

8 a.m.

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon University Invite

10/8/2011 11:45:00 AM | Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

By: Brooke Baker

Grand Canyon University’s Kipkorir Mutai had a repeat performance today after winning the annual GCU Invite for the second year in a row with a 25:11.4 8K; the men’s team placed fourth of 12 teams and the women finished fifth of nine teams.

Mutai finished first of all collegiate runners including those from Division I institutions and helped lead the men’s team to a fourth place finish. Arizona State University took the team title with a low score 28 and runners finishing second, third, fourth, and fifth. The University of Arizona placed second and New Mexico State finished third.

Junior Sharles Simon placed sixth overall with a 25:44.6 8K and freshman Brandon Kocmoud crossed the line at 26:27.0 to placed 22^nd overall. Jordan Beverly and Andrew Meyers rounded out the top five, finishing 34^th and 53^rd respectively.

The women’s team finished fifth of nine teams with a team total 141. The University of Arizona took the team title with runners finishing first, second, third, fifth, and sixth and a team low 17 points. Arizona’s Hanna Henson came in first individually with an 18:04.7 5K. Arizona State finished second and New Mexico State came in third.

Sophomore Kelsi Beam led Grand Canyon with a 22^nd place finish, running the 5K course in 20:11.1. Megan Young and Justine Peterson finished in 20:44.1 and 20:53.3 respectively. Julia Wild came in fourth for the ‘Lopes, 31^st overall, and Monique Belmudes came in 32^nd to finish fifth for the team.

To see photos of the event, click here.

The ‘Lopes will have next weekend off before competing at Mesa Community College’s Thunderbird Invitational in Gilbert at Crossroads Park with an 8 a.m. start time.

Team Results
Overall Individual Results
Unattached Competitors