GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.  The Western Colorado cross country team took a short trip over to Grand Junction for the High Desert Maverick XC Invite. Multiple runners finished inside the top 10 with Branden Davis winning the men's race.

JUST THE FACTS
Event: High Desert Dental Maverick XC Invite
Final Score: Men 8k: 1. Western Colorado (18) 2. Colorado Mesa (52) 3. Fort Lewis (62)
Final Score: Women 6k: 1. Colorado Mesa (17) 2. Western Colorado (45)                                              
Location: Grand Junction, Colo. / Chipeta Golf Course

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Western Colorado cross country teams delivered strong performances, with the men's squad claiming first place and the women's team finishing second behind impressive efforts from their top runners.
• The women's race kicked off the event, with several Mountaineers positioning themselves near the front of the pack. Kate Horneck led the way for Western, crossing the finish line in fourth place with a time of 22:13.24. Lainey Mathiske followed with a strong performance of her own, securing eighth place in 22:40.03.
• Alissa Rall was the next Mountaineer to finish, placing 11th with a time of 23:10.67. Dewachen Ilg followed closely behind, crossing the line in 12th place in 23:17.43. Rounding out the women's top five for Western was Alice Hamm, who finished in 23:17.46, helping the Mountaineers secure a second-place team finish.
• The men's race followed, with Western showcasing its depth and strength throughout the field. Branden Davis led the charge, capturing first place with an impressive time of 25:02.27. Wyatt Hoover followed with a runner-up finish, crossing the line in 25:25.29 to give the Mountaineers the top two individual finishers.
• Nathan Lumaye continued Western's strong showing, earning fifth place with a time of 25:36.50. Kyler Boymel finished just behind him in sixth place, clocking in at 25:37.59. Samuel Brondyke rounded out the Mountaineers' top five, placing 11th with a time of 26:02.47.
• The men's team secured first place behind a dominant performance from its top five runners, highlighted by Davis' individual victory and Hoover's second-place finish. Meanwhile, the women's squad earned a second-place team finish, with five Mountaineers delivering strong performances to keep Western near the front of the field.
• Both teams demonstrated their depth and competitiveness, with the men's squad taking home the team title and the women adding a runner-up finish to round out a successful day for Western Colorado cross country.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will be back in action on Saturday, November 7 for the RMAC Championships.