Glendale, AZ- The cross country team hosted its second annual Firestorm Classic at the Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park on Saturday.  The race included several local junior college teams including NJCAA #1 Mesa Community College.  Also, making their cross country debut as members of the GSAC was Nevada State University. 

Leading the way for the ladies' team was senior Alison Unruh who finished 5^th overall with a solid early season time of 23:22.6.  Not far behind her was sophomore Alexi Till who ran a lifetime best of 23:42.8 to finish 6^th overall.  Two spots behind Till was freshman Piper Shannon who finished 8^th overall with a time of 24:04.7 in her debut race at the 6K distance.  She was followed by juniors Priscilla Celis-Saldivar (24:50.2) and Eva Huff (25:25.6) to round out the team scoring.

Thoughts from Coach Fahsholz
"Loved the competitive spirit our ladies brought today.  It was a difficult back-to-back of racing on the Embry-Riddle course last weekend and then turning right around and racing on ours today in 80-degree weather.  Additionally, we will not face more talented teams than the one we faced last week, and then Mesa Community College today.  They have prepared us well for our most important races of the season coming up in October & November."

Event Details
Invitational: Women's 6K
Team Finish: 2^nd of 3 Teams
Number of runners: 25
Location: Sahuaro Ranch Park (Glendale, AZ)

GSAC Team Finishes

1. Mesa CC

Team Points - 17
Team Time – 1:56:01

2. Arizona Christian

Team Points - 41
Team Time – 2:01.25

3. Nevada State

Team Points - 78
Team Time – 2:23:32
 
Individual Finish
Alison Unruh
Time – 23:22.6
Place – 5th
Alexi Till
Time – 23:42.8 *Lifetime PR
Place – 6^th
Piper Shannon
Time – 24:04.7
Place - 8^th
Priscilla Celis-Saldivar
Time – 25:25.6 
Place - 11^th
Eva Huff
Time – 25:25.6
Place - 15^th
Brennen Stephens
Time – 28:28.8
Place - 20^th
 
Next On the Schedule
The team will take next weekend off before travelling west to The Master's Invite on Saturday October 3^rd.  Men's 8K will begin at 8:00am and will be followed by the Women's 6K at 8:45am.

Roll Storm!