Mantz edges returning runner-up Wildschutt on home course, Lumberjacks dominate with five scorers in top 25 in men’s 8-kilometer race; Nichols leads Colorado to convincing victory in women’s 6-kilometer event in Tallahassee

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Seven months removed from the NCAA Division 1 Championships in Stillwater, Okla., the top men’s team and elite individual competitor still remained the same Friday at the Florida State Invitational, which also showcased the Pre-Nationals for the Nov. 20 final at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Brigham Young’s Conner Mantz, the defending individual winner, relied on a late surge to edge returning runner-up Adriaan Wildschutt of the host Seminoles in the men’s garnet 8-kilometer race and reigning team champion Northern Arizona placed five scorers in the top 25 to produce a decisive victory with 64 points over both Colorado and Arkansas, which both scored 128 points.

The Buffaloes prevailed on the head-to-head tiebreaker with faster athletes at the first, third and fifth scorers.

Mantz trailed Wildschutt entering the final kilometer, but just like he did Sept. 24 at the Roy Griak Invitational to prevail against Iowa State’s Wesley Kiptoo, the BYU standout closed in impressive fashion over the final 400 meters to clock a course-record 22 minutes, 47 seconds and hold off Wildschutt (22:49.5) and Alabama’s Victor Kiprop (22:54.8) for his sixth consecutive victory.

Abdihamid Nur finished fourth in 22:55.2, Drew Bosley secured sixth in 23:00.5 and Nico Young placed ninth in 23:12.4 for Northern Arizona, which also had Nebraska transfer George Kusche take 20th in 23:24 and Theo Quax earn 25th in 23:26.3.

Colorado was led by Eduardo “Lalo” Herrera securing seventh in 23:01.4 and Arkansas had Amon Kemboi finish 10th in 23:13.1. Casey Clinger added an eighth-place effort in 23:06 for BYU, which finished fourth overall with 131 points.

Dylan Jacobs finished fifth in 22:55.5 to lead fifth-place Notre Dame with 203 points.

Colorado’s Abby Nichols, who finished 18th at the Division 1 final in March, pulled away from a group of six athletes in the final 800 meters of the women’s 6-kilometer garnet race to prevail in 19:46.4.

Nichols led five Buffaloes in the top 25, including Emily Covert finishing fifth (19:54.6) and Michigan State transfer India Johnson placing ninth (20:08.4), to triumph with 54 points.

Utah followed its victory Sept. 23 at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Oregon with a runner-up performance with 149 points. Bella Williams (20:11.6) and Emily Venters (20:11.9) were 12th and 13th overall for the Utes.

Florida State, led by a third-place finish from Lauren Ryan (19:51.1), took third with 163 points. Ole Miss finished fourth with 165 points and North Carolina was fifth with 184 points.

Arkansas’ Lauren Gregory was runner-up in 19:47.7 and Krissy Gear earned eighth in 20:08, with Northern Arizona’s Taryn O’Neill placing fourth in 19:53.4, as the teams were sixth and seventh overall. Liberty, which finished eighth, had Adelyn Ackley and Calli Doan both timed in 20:05 to place sixth and seventh individually.

Auburn’s Joyce Kimeli, who prevailed in her season opener Oct. 1 at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational and was the midway leader Friday, took 10th in 20:10.9.

Tennessee, led by an individual victory from Sydney Seymour in 20:41.9, won the women’s open 6-kilometer race with 67 points. The Volunteers, who competed without Katie Thronson, had six athletes in the top 35 overall.

Jenna Mulhern, a senior at West Chester Henderson High in Pennsylvania, was runner-up in 20:49.5.

Northern Arizona also prevailed in the men’s open 8-kilometer race with five scorers in the top 15 for a 38-point effort.

Lexington Hilton of Arkansas State won the race from wire to wire 23:52.3.