Thursday, September 10
Salt Lake City, UT / Sugar House Park
10 Am
University of Utah
vs
Beehive Invitational
Women of Utah Heads to Sugar House Park for Beehive Invitational
9/8/2026 10:48 AM | Cross Country
The Beehive Invitational is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. (MDT) at Sugar House Park on Thursday, Sept. 10.
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 20 Utah cross country team won't have to go far this week as it sends a select group to compete at the Beehive Invitational this Thursday, Sept. 10, at Sugar House Park. The women's race is slated to begin at 10 a.m. (MDT).
BEEHIVE INVITATIONAL
HOST: Westminster [UT]
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 10
TIME: 10 a.m. (MDT)
LOCATION: Salt Lake City, UT
VENUE: Sugar House Park
LIVE RESULTS: View Live Results
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce
FROM THE LINE
Utah will just send a pair of runners in Lauren Ayers and Allie Bruce to compete at this week's Beehive Invitational. Ayers finished 12th-overall last season at the same meet, running 18:33.29. This will be Bruce's first time running in this meet – which is in its second year.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Women of Utah check in at No. 20 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings after returning all five of their scorers from last year's NCAA Championships squad that finished 17th-overall. This marks the fifth-consecutive season Utah has been ranked in the preseason poll and seventh time overall. The Utes also returned their sixth finisher from the championships with the addition of a quartet of veterans to their roster in Bri Rinn (returner), Mackenzie Rogers (redshirt), Tayla Gunton (grad transfer) and Maebh Richardson (transfer).
LAST TIME OUT
Utah placed third in its season-opener at the UVU Invitational and was led by fifth-year senior Mackenzie Rogers – who made her cross country debut as a Ute. The Poway, Calif., product crossed the finished line in 16:44.82 for 13th-overall in the 3-mile race. Fellow fifth-year senior Bri Rinn was the second scorer for Utah, finishing 18th-overall with a time of 17:02.26 for her best mark in this meet.
Utah's freshmen crew of Zoey Nilsson, Brielle Nilsson and Piper Simpson rounded out the list of scorers for the Utes in their collegiate debut. Z. Nilsson (23rd) led the way with a run of 17:27.74 followed by her twin, B. Nilsson (27th), at 17:37.82 with Simpson (28th) right behind her 17:38.90. Allie Bruce (18:09.41) and Lauren Ayers (18:28.22) rounded things out for the Women of Utah.
PLOURDE READIES FOR COPENHAGEN
Former Utah All-American Simone Plourde will once again don the Red & White and represent Team Canada later this month at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Canadian will compete in the 5km race on Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 6:10am (MDT). She recently competed for Team Canada at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
UP NEXT
The Women of Utah will get their first big test as they travel to Terra Haute, Ind., for the John McNichols Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19, as they get a first-hand look at this year's NCAA Championships course. The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course has played host to 15 NCAA Championships, 13 of which for Division I and two for Division III. It last hosted the championships in 2019.
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.
BEEHIVE INVITATIONAL
HOST: Westminster [UT]
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 10
TIME: 10 a.m. (MDT)
LOCATION: Salt Lake City, UT
VENUE: Sugar House Park
LIVE RESULTS: View Live Results
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce
FROM THE LINE
Utah will just send a pair of runners in Lauren Ayers and Allie Bruce to compete at this week's Beehive Invitational. Ayers finished 12th-overall last season at the same meet, running 18:33.29. This will be Bruce's first time running in this meet – which is in its second year.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Women of Utah check in at No. 20 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings after returning all five of their scorers from last year's NCAA Championships squad that finished 17th-overall. This marks the fifth-consecutive season Utah has been ranked in the preseason poll and seventh time overall. The Utes also returned their sixth finisher from the championships with the addition of a quartet of veterans to their roster in Bri Rinn (returner), Mackenzie Rogers (redshirt), Tayla Gunton (grad transfer) and Maebh Richardson (transfer).
LAST TIME OUT
Utah placed third in its season-opener at the UVU Invitational and was led by fifth-year senior Mackenzie Rogers – who made her cross country debut as a Ute. The Poway, Calif., product crossed the finished line in 16:44.82 for 13th-overall in the 3-mile race. Fellow fifth-year senior Bri Rinn was the second scorer for Utah, finishing 18th-overall with a time of 17:02.26 for her best mark in this meet.
Utah's freshmen crew of Zoey Nilsson, Brielle Nilsson and Piper Simpson rounded out the list of scorers for the Utes in their collegiate debut. Z. Nilsson (23rd) led the way with a run of 17:27.74 followed by her twin, B. Nilsson (27th), at 17:37.82 with Simpson (28th) right behind her 17:38.90. Allie Bruce (18:09.41) and Lauren Ayers (18:28.22) rounded things out for the Women of Utah.
PLOURDE READIES FOR COPENHAGEN
Former Utah All-American Simone Plourde will once again don the Red & White and represent Team Canada later this month at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Canadian will compete in the 5km race on Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 6:10am (MDT). She recently competed for Team Canada at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
UP NEXT
The Women of Utah will get their first big test as they travel to Terra Haute, Ind., for the John McNichols Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19, as they get a first-hand look at this year's NCAA Championships course. The LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course has played host to 15 NCAA Championships, 13 of which for Division I and two for Division III. It last hosted the championships in 2019.
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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