Upcoming Event: Cross Country versus Beehive Invitational on September 12, 2025 at W: 10:00 AM / M: 10:45 AM
W: 10:00 AM / M: 10:45 AM
Cross Country
vs Beehive Invitational
Friday, August 29
Scera Park / Orem, UT
10 AM
University of Utah
vs
UVU Invitational
Utah Cross Country Set to Open Season at UVU Invitational Friday
8/27/2025 1:43 PM | Cross Country
The Utah cross country team returns to action for 2025 this Friday, Aug. 29, at the UVU Invitational.
SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah cross country team will kick off its 2025 campaign this Friday, Aug. 29, starting at 10 a.m. (MST) and will be held at Scera Park once again.
UVU INVITATIONAL
HOST: Utah Valley
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 29
TIME: 10 a.m. (MST)
LOCATION: Orem, UT
VENUE: Scera Park
RESULTS: Direct Athletics
PARTICIPANTS: Oregon, Salt Lake CC, Snow College, Southern Idaho, Southern Utah, Utah, Utah Valley, Westminster
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce, Josie Fale, Claire Le Gallo, Madi Hulsey, Bri Rinn, Cloe Ruth, Millie Wilcox.
FROM THE LINE
A new season awaits as the Utah cross country team kicks off the year once again at the UVU Invitational with eight competitors. Of the group, Lauren Ayers, Josie Fale and Bri Rinn all ran at the same meet last season.
Allie Bruce will make her collegiate debut on the cross country side after competing in just the indoor season a year ago. Claire Le Gallo and Madi Hulsey will make their cross country debut for Utah as well after transferring in. Le Gallo (Arizona State) and Hulsey (Ole Miss) both transferred in last season and only competed in the indoor season while Hulsey joined mid-year.
Millie Wilcox, who spent her last three seasons on the sprints side of things, will join the distance crew and run in her first cross country meet this Friday. Meanwhile, Cloe Ruth will be Utah's lone true freshman making her collegiate debut.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Women of Utah check in at No. 23 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings after losing a trio of veterans from last year's squad that finished 19th at the NCAA Championships. This marks the fourth-straight season the Utes have been ranked in the preseason poll and the sixth time overall (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017). The Utes are also 1-of-5 teams from the Big 12 ranked in the preseason poll, joining BYU, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Colorado in the top-25.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Utah brings in five fresh faces to the distance squad with three making their cross country roster debuts.
Madi Hulsey | 5th Year
Lee's Summit, Mo. • Lee's Summit West HS • Ole Miss
• Transferred to Utah mid-year in 2024-25 and only competed during indoor season
• Working towards a master's in bio-medical engineering
Emily Junginger | Freshman
Aichtal, Germany • Gymnasium Neckartenzlingen
• Placed 3rd in the 5000m race at the 2025 German U20 Outdoor Championships
• Competed for Germany at the 2024 U20 Cross Country European Championships
Rebecca O'Keefe | Sophomore
Sammamish, Wash. • Skyline HS • Tennessee
• Placed 37th-overall at the NCAA South Region Championships
• Competed on NCAA Championships team her freshman year
Mackenzie Rogers | Senior
Poway, Calif. • Poway HS • Arkansas
• Family is full of collegiate athletics (multiple athletes)
• Is a two-time NCAA West Regional qualifier
Millie Wilcox | Senior
Holladay, Utah • Olympus HS
• Spent the last 3 seasons on the sprints side
• Qualified for her first NCAA West Regional meet in 2025 and advanced to the 1500m quarterfinals
NCAA REGIONALS RETURN TO SLC
The NCAA Mountain Regionals, which is considered the toughest region in the country returns to Salt Lake City this year and hosted by the University of Utah at the Regional Athletic Complex. The meet is scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 14. The last time Utah hosted the mountain regionals was back in 2019 when it was hosted at Rose Park Golf Course. More details to come.
HOME MEET PUSHED UP
Utah's lone home cross country meet, the Beehive Invitational, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12, beginning with the women at 10 a.m. (MST) followed by the men at approximately 10:45 a.m. at Sugar House Park.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360 app.
UVU INVITATIONAL
HOST: Utah Valley
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 29
TIME: 10 a.m. (MST)
LOCATION: Orem, UT
VENUE: Scera Park
RESULTS: Direct Athletics
PARTICIPANTS: Oregon, Salt Lake CC, Snow College, Southern Idaho, Southern Utah, Utah, Utah Valley, Westminster
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce, Josie Fale, Claire Le Gallo, Madi Hulsey, Bri Rinn, Cloe Ruth, Millie Wilcox.
FROM THE LINE
A new season awaits as the Utah cross country team kicks off the year once again at the UVU Invitational with eight competitors. Of the group, Lauren Ayers, Josie Fale and Bri Rinn all ran at the same meet last season.
Allie Bruce will make her collegiate debut on the cross country side after competing in just the indoor season a year ago. Claire Le Gallo and Madi Hulsey will make their cross country debut for Utah as well after transferring in. Le Gallo (Arizona State) and Hulsey (Ole Miss) both transferred in last season and only competed in the indoor season while Hulsey joined mid-year.
Millie Wilcox, who spent her last three seasons on the sprints side of things, will join the distance crew and run in her first cross country meet this Friday. Meanwhile, Cloe Ruth will be Utah's lone true freshman making her collegiate debut.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Women of Utah check in at No. 23 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings after losing a trio of veterans from last year's squad that finished 19th at the NCAA Championships. This marks the fourth-straight season the Utes have been ranked in the preseason poll and the sixth time overall (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2019, 2017). The Utes are also 1-of-5 teams from the Big 12 ranked in the preseason poll, joining BYU, West Virginia, Oklahoma State and Colorado in the top-25.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Utah brings in five fresh faces to the distance squad with three making their cross country roster debuts.
Madi Hulsey | 5th Year
Lee's Summit, Mo. • Lee's Summit West HS • Ole Miss
• Transferred to Utah mid-year in 2024-25 and only competed during indoor season
• Working towards a master's in bio-medical engineering
Emily Junginger | Freshman
Aichtal, Germany • Gymnasium Neckartenzlingen
• Placed 3rd in the 5000m race at the 2025 German U20 Outdoor Championships
• Competed for Germany at the 2024 U20 Cross Country European Championships
Rebecca O'Keefe | Sophomore
Sammamish, Wash. • Skyline HS • Tennessee
• Placed 37th-overall at the NCAA South Region Championships
• Competed on NCAA Championships team her freshman year
Mackenzie Rogers | Senior
Poway, Calif. • Poway HS • Arkansas
• Family is full of collegiate athletics (multiple athletes)
• Is a two-time NCAA West Regional qualifier
Millie Wilcox | Senior
Holladay, Utah • Olympus HS
• Spent the last 3 seasons on the sprints side
• Qualified for her first NCAA West Regional meet in 2025 and advanced to the 1500m quarterfinals
NCAA REGIONALS RETURN TO SLC
The NCAA Mountain Regionals, which is considered the toughest region in the country returns to Salt Lake City this year and hosted by the University of Utah at the Regional Athletic Complex. The meet is scheduled to take place on Friday, Nov. 14. The last time Utah hosted the mountain regionals was back in 2019 when it was hosted at Rose Park Golf Course. More details to come.
HOME MEET PUSHED UP
Utah's lone home cross country meet, the Beehive Invitational, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 12, beginning with the women at 10 a.m. (MST) followed by the men at approximately 10:45 a.m. at Sugar House Park.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360 app.
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