COLUMBIA, Mo. ­— Isaac Ochoa's standout junior season continued Friday morning, as he placed 13^th in the Invitational section at the Gans Creek Classic to lead the Coyotes.
 
Ochoa ran 23:00.9 to place 13^th overall in the men's Gold (invitational) 8k, finishing first among Summit League runners in the field and earning him medalist status. His time is also the fastest 8k at Gans Creek in program history by over one minute, beating the previous school best of 24:05.5 held by Merga Gemeda.

Not only was Ochoa's time the fastest 8k in USD history at Gans Creek, it was the fastest 8k in program history on any course. It is also the second fastest in Summit League history, just 2.2 seconds off the Summit League all-time record.
 
Ochoa was not the only Coyote to run under Gemeda's 24:05.5 time, as Natnael Kifle ran 23:51.3 to place 49^th Friday morning, a solid improvement from his freshman year time of 24:39.7 (2024) on this course. Jack Williams, a Lee's Summit, Mo. native running in a homecoming of sorts for him, placed 137^th overall with a 24:36.2. Piercze Marshall (24:44.9) and Levi Hill (24:58.8) rounded out the Yote scoring five in the Gold race.
 
As a team, the Coyotes placed 18^th overall with a total of 483 points from their scoring five.
 
In the women's Gold (invitational) race, Geneva Timmerman paced the Coyotes for a second straight race. She placed 31^st overall with a 20:22.9, becoming the first Coyote woman to run a 6k in under 21 minutes at Gans Creek.
 
The next three Coyotes crossed the line within 10 seconds of each other with Drew Beason finishing in 21:04.3, followed by Jade Ecoffey (21:12.1) and Peyton Svehla (21:12.8). Rounding out the scoring five for the Coyotes was freshman Alyx Woodley, running 21:30.3.
 
The Coyote women placed 16^th as a team with a total of 424 points from their five scorers.
 
In the women's 6k Black (open) race, five Coyotes competed, led by senior Alexis Pagel's 22:12.4 time for 20^th. Kinsey Evans (22:50.7), Ellie Thomas (22:57.5), Sarah VanDeBerg (23:01.0), and Madison Brouwer (24:01.9) round out the Coyotes who competed in the open section.
 
For the USD men, three Coyote freshman competed in the open division, with Cohen Moll crossing the line first in the group with a 37^th place time of 25:55.7. Caleb Muehler (26:31.4) and Landon Wegleitner (27:48.8) also finished the 8k.
 
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Gold (Invitational)
13. Isaac Ochoa 23:00.9
49. Natnael Kifle 23:51.3
137. Jack Williams 24:36.2
149. Piercze Marshall 24:44.9
171. Levi Hill 24:58.8
207. Tommy Hensley 25:17.9
215. Ty Petrocco 25:22.3
234. Isaiah Smith 25:52.5
 
Black (Open)
37. Cohen Moll 25:55.7
74. Caleb Muehler 26:31.4
153. Landon Wegleitner 27:48.8
 
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Gold (Invitational)
31. Geneva Timmerman 20:22.9
80. Drew Beason 21:04.3
93. Jade Ecoffey 21:12.1
96. Peyton Svehla 21:12.8
130. Alyx Woodley 21:30.3
148. Alexus Sindelar 21:39.7
197. Kori McClain 22:11.3
231. Lauren Myers 22:45.9
241. Calia Chaney 23:14.0
 
Black (Open)
20. Alexis Pagel 22:12.4
49. Kinsey Evans 22:50.7
57. Ellie Thomas 22:57.5
62. Sarah VanDeBerg 23:01.0
138. Madison Brouwer 24:01.9
 
UP NEXT
The Coyotes are back in action next week at the SDSU Classic in Brookings. The races are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Friday, October 2.

 
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