2021 USF Invitational Results
SAN FRANCISCO – In competitive cross country action for the first time since 2019, Academy of Art's women's and men's teams contested the University of San Francisco Invitational at Golden Gate Park on Saturday. At 39th overall, senior
Natalia Novak led the No. 17 women to ninth overall while junior
Saba Khvichava paced the 10th-place men with an individual finish at 25th overall.
"It was nice to see a return to normalcy overall for the sport," said Director of Operations
Bruce Jackson. "Specifically for us, the group shook off the racing rust and cobwebs."
On the women's side, Novak pushed past seven others in the last 2k to take 39th overall (35th toward team scoring) with a time of 22:35.2 in the 6k. Graduate student
Hasna Kaarour placed 62nd overall (49th toward team scoring) at 23:20.5 followed closely by sophomore
Delanie Dykes in 68th (53rd toward team scoring) at 23:29.8. The final pair of Knights qualifiers were freshman
Lina Hanich (59th toward team scoring) and redshirt junior
Audrey Rosencrans (62nd toward team scoring).
As a team, Academy of Art (258) took ninth overall behind Stanislaus State (187) and ahead of fellow Pacific West Conference competitor (319). The race was won by Nevada's Tierney Wolfgram (20:47.9), but with four finishers among the top eight, host USF took the team title.
Three runners made their debut for ART U cross country led by Khvichava taking 25th overall at 25:36.6 after he passed 17 others in the final stretch of the 8k. Graduate student
Owen Day crossed the finish line 73rd overall (61st toward team scoring) at 27:10.4 while junior
Hudson Lockette took 78th overall (63rd toward team scoring) with a time of 27:35.4. Rounding out the qualifiers were graduate students
Abdelouakil Mustapha (64th toward team scoring) and Elliot Slate (75th toward team scoring).
In the team scoring, ART U (288) bettered UC Santa Cruz (308) for 10th behind Dominican (275). With the top two individual finishers, Evan Burke (24:31.8) and Robert DiDonato (24:34.8), Stanford was the leading squad.
Academy of Art will return to Golden Gate Park on Sept. 10 for the SF State Invitational.
