Pate and Franco lead Pride cross country to quality 2025 start

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Starting their 2025 season in a little bit of wet conditions, the Clarke University cross country teams opened the year at the Loras College Bob Schultz Invitational on Friday evening at the Dubuque Soccer Complex.

Rain and lightning in the area delayed the start of the races just slightly as instead of the men going off first followed by the women's race, both genders began their race at the same time on the slightly wet surface for the 5K race.

The Pride men were able to secure a team fourth place finish out of the nine teams competed with their team points total finishing at 107 behind hosts Loras and their first place 20 points as the Pride secured a pair of top-15 scoring finishes led by Drew Pate's 10th place inidivdual finish but eighth place in terms of team scoring at a 5K personal record of 16:09.4, the third best 5K time in CU men's cross country history.

On the women's side, only competing four runners so not qualifying for a team score, senior Jaycie Franco earned a 13th place 19:56.4 to lead the group that also saw Bridget Bracy clock in at 21:48.8 and Pride freshmen Lexie Dukas (24:02.8) and Lilli Green (28:02.2) make their collegiate debuts.

Junior Chesney Capron produced an individual finish of 16th place to be the 13th team scorer overall in the race as the Monticello, Iowa native produced a 16:23.1 with Bryce Kondos about 20 seconds behind that with a 16:46.8, Charles Juntunen III posting a 36th place 17:05.5, Eric Chatham clocking in at a 17:41.3, and another Pride freshman, Sam Biberdorf rounding out the full squad at 19:58.3.

Clarke cross country will be away from competition next week before running their next race on Saturday, Sept. 13 when they travel to Grinnell, Iowa for the Les Dukes Invitational.