Vringer Paces No. 20 Utah Cross Country to Runner-Up Finish at John McNichols Invitational

Saturday, September 19

Terra Haute, IN / LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course

6:30 AM

University of Utah

John McNichols Invitational

Course Map

Photo Credit: Jerod Ringwald

Vringer Paces No. 20 Utah Cross Country to Runner-Up Finish at John McNichols Invitational

9/19/2026 8:16 AM | Cross Country

Live Results Photo Gallery

No. 20 Utah takes second-overall behind all five scorers in the top-27 on Saturday.

TERRA HAUTE, Ind. – The No. 20 Utah cross country team took second-overall at the John McNichols Invitational on gorgeous Saturday morning in Terra Haute, Ind., behind all five scorers placing at the top-27 on the LaVern Gibson Championships Cross Country Course.

Erin Vringer had a strong finish to lead the Women of Utah, beating out nine other runners in the final 2000m of the race to finish 10th-overall with a time of 20:12.6. Annastasia Peters was Utah's second scorer on the day, crossing the finish line at 20:36.3 for 21st-overall after running down four competitors down the final stretch.

Transfer Tayla Gunton made an immediate impact in her first race donning the Red & White for Utah, securing a 23rd-place finish thanks to her down 18 people going through the 4k mark and another three in the final 2000m for a time of 20:42.4.

Junior Josie Fale posted a new 6k PR on Saturday thanks to a strong performance between the 2k and 4k portions of the race to earn 26th-overall with a run of 20:44.8. Teammate Millie Wilcox rounded out the top-five scorers for Utah and was just a step behind Fale to secure 27th-overall (20:46.7).

Mackenzie Rogers passed 10 runners in the final 2k of the race before finishing in 21:22.5 (63rd) followed by Marika Couture in 73rd at 21:31.4.

In the women's 6k open race, freshman Piper Simpson placed 14th-overall in her first 6k race as a collegian behind a run of 22:11.3. Meanwhile, Utah native Zoey Nilsson posted a run of 22:40.5 in her first 6k race as well for 31st-overall.

WORLD ROAD RUNNING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Halfway across the world, former Utah All-American Simone Plourde placed 27th-overall in the women's elite 5km race with a time of 15:46 at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, for Team Canada.

UP NEXT
The Women of Utah will get a couple weeks to regroup and train before heading to a familiar place and compete at the Nuttycombe Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 9. Gun is slated to go off at 9:30 a.m. (MDT) on the Zimmer Championship Course.

JOHN MCNICHOLS INVITATIONAL
Terra Haute, ID • LaVern Gibson Championships Cross Country Course
2nd / 28 • 107 Points

PL	NAME	FINISH
10th	Erin Vringer	20:12.6
21st	Annastasia Peters	20:36.3
23rd	Tayla Gunton	20:42.4
26th	Josie Fale	20:44.8
27th	Millie Wilcox	20:46.7
41st	Bri Rinn	20:59.5
63rd	Mackenzie Rogers	21:22.5
73rd	Marika Couture	21:31.4

JOHN MCNICHOLS INVITATIONAL "OPEN RACE"
Terra Haute, ID • LaVern Gibson Championships Cross Country Course

PL	NAME	FINISH
14th	Piper Simpson	22:11.3
31st	Zoey Nilsson	22:40.5

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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