Complete Results
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - In one of the highest-ranked races in program history, the Gonzaga men's cross country team battled 23 other regionally-ranked teams to finish 13th in the 24-team race on Friday at the Notre Dame Invitational.
Competing on the five-mile course at the Notre Dame Golf Course, senior Nick Roche, sophomore Troy Fraley and junior Kyle Branch all finished in the top 75 to help the Zags defeat 11 other schools, including the host Fighting Irish. The course took on a big rain storm on Friday night that produced four inches of rain, leaving it soaked for Saturday's races.
Roche covered the five miles in 23 minutes, 57.3 seconds to finish in 37th, while Fraley was 20 seconds back in 59th and Branch was 74th at 24:24.2. Seniors Colin O'Neil (24:34.5) and Robert Walgren (24:38.2) rounded out the Zags' top five.
"When I saw us three points ahead of Notre Dame and ahead of some other really good teams like Penn and Iowa, I thought it was nice to beat some odds," head coach Pat Tyson said. "We battled through some adversity with some travel issues getting there and tough course conditions, but I'd say we have a lot left in us. Overall, it was a great day for Gonzaga, but we have much higher expectations."
Roche led the GU group out strong, battling with the top 10 individuals, while Robert Walgren and Fraley were also hanging with the large lead pack. Fraley got tripped up and went down, but got back to his feet and finished as the second-highest Bulldog in the field. Roche hung tight for much of the race on his way to a top-40 finish.
"I thought Nick (Roche) did a great job today. Anytime you are battling with some of the top guys in the country, you are doing pretty well," Tyson said. "It was great to see him out there competing."
The Gonzaga Cross Country women, as well as the men who didn't travel to Notre Dame, will compete in the Montana Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the University of Montana. Held at the UM Golf Course, the women's 5,000-meter race will start at 10:30 a.m., followed by the men's 8,000-meter race at 11:15 a.m.
Complete Gonzaga Results
37. Nick Roche - 23:57.3
59. Troy Fraley - 24:17.4
74. Kyle Branch - 24:24.2
105. Colin O'Neil - 24:34.5
112. Robert Walgren - 24:38.2
151. Danny Lunder - 24:57.9
156. Braeden Van Deynze - 25:02.3
