ASU cross country swept the ASU Cross Country Invitational at Karsten Golf Course on Friday morning, ending its season on a high note.
The men started the race and finished in first place with 31 points in a strong performance. Their top finisher, freshman Erik Gonzalez, finished in fifth place with a time of 21:16.
"The plan was to go out hard in 4:50, then just hang on until the last mile when we could pick it up," Gonzalez said. "Time-wise, we were a little off, but other than that, it went really well."
The winner of the men’s race was former Sun Devil CJ Albertson, who ran unattached.
The Sun Devils ran against UA, NAU, Central Arizona College, Federation University Sports China and Mesa Community College. The men competed in a four-mile race and the women in a four-mile race.
Sophomore Courtney Lewis and senior Billie Jo Dytrt led the Sun Devil women to a team first place finish after the two finished in first and second place. That made for a season-low of 24 points for the women’s team.
Lewis finished in first place at 18:19 and Dytrt at 18:24.
"Courtney (Lewis) did an excellent job today," head coach Jeremy Rasmussen said. “She definitely deserves the win because she's gone through a lot this fall and put herself in the position to go race well next week.”
With the conference championships coming up shortly, Rasmussen decided to rest his most competitive runners: John Reniewicki, Chelsey Albertson and Samantha Ortega.
“I think we still have a little work to do here and there, but it’s all more mental in my opinion," Lewis said. “Once we get everything mentally situated, we’ll be ready for what comes against us in the future.”
Freshman Jackson Lewis was the second finisher for the ASU men with a ninth-place finish and a time of 21:27. The third finisher for the Sun Devils was Michael Renner in 11th place at 21:35.
The final two finishers for the Sun Devils were Alexander Stevens in 14th place at 21:43 and Nick Dale in 19th place 22:09.
Another top three finisher for the Sun Devil women was Angela Saitta in fifth place at 19:27.
Other finishers for the Sun Devils were: Bianca Tinoco in seventh place at 19:35, Anastasia Hancock in ninth place at 19:50, Emily Gallegos-Francksen in 11th at 19:52, Lauren Gavulic in 12th at 20:06, Alethia Marrero in 15th at 20:19, Christine Williford in 17th at 20:32 and Melese Crozier in 32nd at 23:12.
The Sun Devils will next compete in the Pac-12 Championships on Friday, Oct. 27 in Springfield, Oregon.
Reach the reporter at cncarte1@asu.edu or follow @CCydeni on Twitter.
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