Columbia, Mo. (September 26, 2025) – Northern Arizona cross country faced a championship-level field at the Gans Creek Classic on Friday morning, with both the men's and women's squads racing on the course that will host the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Women's 6K Gold
The NAU women shined, finishing second overall with 126 points, behind only Florida (102).
Senior Agnes McTighe paced the Lumberjacks in 12th place (19:35.6), followed closely by Hayley Burns in 13th (19:37.9). Sophomore Ava Mitchell turned in a strong run for 23rd (19:54.0), while freshman Kiki Vaughn impressed in 35th (20:07.4). Emma Stutzman closed out the scoring five in 43rd (20:13.6).
NAU's depth continued with Nikita Moore (71st, 20:32.7), Anna Fenske (111th, 20:57.2), and freshman Payton Godsey (131st, 21:07.7).
The Jacks' tight pack secured their runner-up finish over Colorado (166) and Virginia (210), proving they belong among the nation's best.
Men's 8K Gold
The NAU men placed eighth with 239 points in a deep race featuring multiple top-10 programs.
Junior Erik Le Roux led the way in 21st (23:03.0), followed by Justin Keyes in 42nd (23:18.6) and sophomore Manny Perez in 51st (23:24.4). Ford Washburn crossed in 60th (23:28.2), and junior Aidan Puffer rounded out the scoring five with a 65th-place finish (23:32.2).
Close behind, Ethan Godsey (77th, 23:36.2), Clay Shively (93rd, 23:45.2), and Zack Munson (163rd, 24:17.1) added depth for the Jacks.
As a team, NAU finished just two points behind Butler (237) and 10 back of Syracuse (229), while Iowa State (47) claimed the win over Virginia (107) and Colorado (126).
Men's 8K Black (Secondary Race)
Northern Arizona also entered two athletes in the Men's Black 8K, showcasing additional depth.
Senior Aiden Barnhill placed 79th in 24:40.0, running aggressively early before settling into the pack, while sophomore Aaron Sahlman finished 143rd in 25:05.6.
Though not factored into team scoring, the pair gained valuable experience on the NCAA Championship layout and added to the Lumberjacks' overall presence at Gans Creek.
Results can be found here.
Next Up
The Lumberjacks continue their regular season in October as they build toward the championship stretch in Madison Wisconsin for the Nuttycombe Invitational.
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