Wheeling, W. Va. - Throughout the year, the Wheeling University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams have been building a young core to compete both now and in the future. On Saturday, the team runs their final tune-up for the 2025 season when they head to the Carnegie Mellon Invitational Saturday, with the men running at 10 AM, followed by the women at 11 AM. They will compete against some of the top competition across all three levels of the NCAA as they make their final preparations for the Mountain East Conference (MEC) Cross Country Championships.
Last time out, the Cardinals got a preview of the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Course when they competed at the Lock Haven Invitational. The men would kick-off the day with their 8K and would place one runner in the top 10 of the field, and three in the top 100 runners in the race. Four of the five racers on the course would set PRs at the traditionally fast course, and they look to continue their momentum this time out. On the women's side, the Cardinals would place three runners in the top 40 of the event, including their second straight top 10 finisher on the course. Like the men, the women would also have a big PR day, with four of their five runners also setting PRs at the event. It was a big confidence boost for the young runners as they continue building their confidence on the course.
For the men, it was sophomore Magnus Polkner leading the way with his second top 10 finish in as many races. He would end up taking 7th overall with a time of 26:50.7, shaving 21 seconds off his previous PR. After missing the first race of the season, Polkner has burst onto the scene for the Cardinals, setting a pair of top 10 finishes to start the season. It was the first time he cracked the 27-minute mark this season as he looks to continue being a leader for the team. The biggest PR of the day would come from freshman Aidan McKenna, who took over three-minutes off his previous PR. He would run a time of 32:44.6 at the event, besting his previous 8K PR of 35:54.1. McKenna has worked hard throughout the season to lower his times on the course and looks to have that hard work pay off.
On the women's side, it was once again Madison Conrad leading the way, picking up her second top 10 finish of the season. Conrad would finish 5th overall, her highest individual placement of the season, running a time of 23:56.2. It knocked 50 seconds off her collegiate PR, and she was with the top of the pack throughout the race, sitting in second until the 3.5K mark. Conrad has been the Cardinal's leading runner in each of their first three races this season and looks to continue that success in the regular season finale. Finishing right behind her was freshman Lucy Banks, who finished 37th in the field and was just 24 seconds off the lead at the 1.6K mark. She would shave over a minute off her previous PR as she continues to grow towards the championship event.
Saturday's event will bring 22 teams from across all three levels of the NCAA to Youthtowne in Clinton, Pennsylvania. The course surrounds the local Youthtowne Ballfield, circling around the park in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. The men will start the day, running their third 8K race of the season as they get ready to take on their most challenging course of the season at the 2025 MEC Men's Cross Country Championship. The women's 6K race will follow at 11 AM, following the same course as the men as they compete in their final 6K of the regular season. The Cardinals will be one of six MEC teams at the event, joining Frostburg State, Glenville State, Point Park, West Liberty, and West Virginia Wesleyan in the tournament field.
The Details
The men's 8K race will start the day off at 10 AM, followed by the women's 6K race at 11 AM. You can follow along with Live Results by clicking HERE.
