Prescott, AZ- The men's cross-country team drove up the mountain to Prescott, AZ for their first race of the season at the Embry-Riddle Invitational. The race, run on the campus of Embry-Riddle University, sits at 5,500 feet and features multiple long hills with uneven ground making the course the most challenging the team will face all season. Competing against the Firestorm was the host Eagles, as well as several local junior college teams from the area.
Leading the men's team was junior
Braxton Pingleton who finished 15
th overall with a new course personal best of 28:03. After Pingleton came sophomore
John-Gabriel Lofredo who also set a new course best with a time of 29:40.
Peter Brown made his return to from injury to place 30
th overall in 29:43. Running for the first time in a Firestorm uniform was junior college transfer
Nicholas Hiser who ran a time of 30:52 to finish 38
th overall. Filling out the point scorers was sophomore
Stephan Tinsley who, going with the theme of the day set a new course best of 32:58
Also participating were sophomores
Lonato Tsinnijinnie and
Mario Contreras who did not merely set new course bests but set all time 8K personal records for any course. Tsinnijinnie's time of 32:59 was a five-minute improvement from a year ago on the course, and a two-minute improvement from his all-time best on any course. Contreras did not run the course as a freshman but set a personal best 8k of 34:52 which a minute faster than he ran at the end of last season on a faster course.
Thoughts from Coach Fahsholz
"Over the years, this has become our go-to first race of the season because of how challenging it is. There is less oxygen in Prescott, and that, along with the long winding hills test the fitness levels of our runners. For those who ran, I was really pleased with both their effort and competitive intelligence. Every guy who ran here last year improved by well over a minute, and in some case much more than that. Braxton and John ran impressive course PB's, but
Lonato Tsinnijinnie ran a lifetime/all course PB which is a rarity on a course like this. Lonato's consistency and work ethic has been so impressive and important for our team. I am glad he is seeing the fruit of his efforts."
Event Details
Invitational: Men's 8K
Team Finish: 4
th of 5 Teams
Number of runners: 57
Location: Embry-Riddle University (Prescott, AZ)
GSAC Team Finishes
- Embry-Riddle
Team Points - 17
Team Time - 2:13.03
- Arizona Christian
Team Points - 92
Team Time - 2:31.18
Individual Finishes
Braxton Pingleton
Time – 28:03.37
Place – 15
th
John-Gabriel Lofredo
Time – 29:40.74
Place - 28
th
Peter Brown
Time – 29:43
Place – 30
th
Nicholas Hiser
Time – 30:52.58
Place – 38
th
Stephan Tinsley
Time – 32:58.47
Place - 46
th
Lonato Tsinnijinnie
Time – 32:59.46
Place – 47
th
Mario Contreras
Time – 34:52.16
Place - 48
th
Next On the Schedule
Next Saturday the team will host the 2
nd Annual Firestorm Classic at the Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park in Glendale, AZ. The men will race first at 7:30am and the women will follow at 8:15am.
Roll Storm!
