2024 Cougar Challenge Results

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Returning to the meet where she broke the program's 6k record one year ago, Academy of Art cross country senior Grace Southern made history once again by placing first overall at Cal State San Marcos' Cougar Challenge by way of the second-fastest time of her career. She led the ART U women's team to 12th while freshman Ethan Forbes paced the men to 13th overall.

Never relinquishing her hold on the top spot for the duration of the 6k race, Southern ended more than two seconds ahead of the next closest finisher, leading the 157 total competitors with a time of 21:07.2. The only faster time of her career was the program record 20:58.6 she ran in the 2023 Cougar Challenge on Sept. 23, 2023.

"This is my first NCAA cross country win which is something I've been wanting since last season," Southern said. "Taking the lead early on with confidence was a big step for me, as I've always been too hesitant to do that. The only piece I was missing today was the time but that will come. The most important thing is I am healthy and hungry and looking forward to championship season."

Multiple 6k lifetime-bests came from graduate student Lina Hanich who took 14th overall at 22:11.7 (14 points toward team score) and senior Michaela Andrews who went 24:44.2 for 116th place (90 points toward team score). Junior María Martín offered a time of 26:16.3 in 135th (93 points toward team score) and sophomore Toni-Ann Lindsay completed the Knights' quintet in 149th place at 29:35.4 (102 points toward team score).

ART U's 300 points collectively placed 12th overall ahead of fellow Pacific West Conference members Concordia (348) and Hawaii Pacific (456). The overall team victory went to Point Loma (65) as there were three Sea Lions in the top six paced by Madeline Reeves (21:09.7) as the runner-up to Southern.

In his first collegiate cross country race, freshman Ethan Forbes made a major move up between the first and second miles, elevating more than 15 spots into the top 70 during that span. He maintained that positioning down the stretch to finish the 8k in 69th (46 points toward team score) overall with a time of 26:12.4.

Behind Forbes also in his first collegiate action was freshman Bethwel Kibet in 129th place (73 points toward team score) at 28:01.1 with junior Vaughn Lacour's 30:03.0 in 149th place (81 points toward team score), junior Taj-Leon Wisdom's 32:25.9 in 154th place (85 points toward team score), and graduate student Shareez Hamm's 37:30.9 in 155th place (86 points toward team score) rounding out the qualifiers.

As a team, the Urban Knights finished 13th overall while Salt Lake Community College placed first overall led by the trio of JaQuavious Harris (23:59.0), Finn Anspach (24.17.4), and Porter Whitworth (24:19.3). Cal State San Marcos was the top NCAA DII squad to place, taking second overall.

Local for the first time this season, Academy of Art will next contest the SF State Invitational in Golden Gate Park on Oct. 11.