KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State cross country team raced in the George Dales Invite hosted by Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on Friday morning. The Cardinal men won the 8K race with 77 points, while the women placed fourth with 124 points.

The 11^th-ranked men's team bested Central Michigan, Akron, Bowling Green, Dayton, and Oakland University to win the Jack Shaw 8K. The women had the best finish out of all the D2 squads in the collegiate 6K. The Cardinals slotted ahead of Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Dayton, Ball State, and Oakland.

Jacob Walker had a good showing for his first race of 2026. The senior finished second in the individual standings with a PR of 24:15.3. Justin Roose clocked a PR of 25:20.8 to finish 13^th.

Bryce Husen placed 18^th, crossing the finish line in 25:35.5, a career PR. Nate Linden ran his first career 8K and placed 23^rd in 25:47.9.

Cooper Byrne also made his 8K debut, placing 25^th in 25:52.3. Another freshman, Jacob Stanislawski, placed 28^th in 25:55.3.

Andrew Commeret posted the final scoring time with a PR of 25:58.7, placing 30^th in the individual results.

Tara Szuper led the women's field. Szuper set a PR and placed 18^th with her time of 21:49.4.

Olivia Purdy finished just a few spots back from Szuper, placing 22^nd with a time of 21:52.4, a PR for the sophomore.

Jenna Sweeney placed 25^th with a time of 22:01.5. Grace Harkenrider placed 28^th with a time of 22:13.1, a PR for her.

Kinsie Jacques finished 31^st with a new career PR of 22:17.7.

Aubrey Mery and Lauren Thomas were the final two women to score. Mery finished 47^th in 22:40.4 (PR), and Thomas clocked 22:57.3 for 65^th.

UP NEXT: The Cardinals host the annual Red October race in University Center on Friday, October 2.