ASU wraps up competition at Grand Canyon Invite

October 09, 2012

The Arizona State University cross country teams competed at the Grand Canyon Invitational in Buckeye, Ariz., Oct. 6, with the men taking third and the women finishing fourth.  


Josh Walker had what may have been the best race of his collegiate career, finishing second overall, covering the 8,000-meter course as Estrella Mountain Regional Park in 24:58.6 and finishing as the top finisher for the Sun Devils. 


Jeff Bickert, who finished in 25:11.1 to finish sixth among collegiate competitors, followed Walker. 


In his Sun Devil debut, junior college transfer Garrett Seawell closed strong to finish hot on Bickert’s heels in 25:17.3 for a seventh-place finish amongst collegiate runners.


Redshirt freshman Daniel Wong was next for the Sun Devils in 25:40.5 to finish 16th among collegiate runners while Andy Cannata rounded out the scorers for ASU with a 26th-place finish among collegians in 26:03.9. 


The Sun Devils finished in a point-scoring tie with Cerritos with 57 points, leading to the race having to go to the sixth-runner to decide second place.  Cerritos’ Oscar Contreras finished ahead of ASU’s sixth runner Jesus Rivera to knock ASU back to third overall.


Kayla Springford, who finished fifth overall in 18:36.3 over the 5,000-meter course, led the Sun Devils women.


Springford was followed by Alexia Velarde in 18:52.1 in sixth among collegiate runners with Shaina Corbin next in line as she finished 14th among collegiate runners in 19:13.7.


Sophomore Taylor Conway was next for the Sun Devils in 19:42.1 to take 26th among collegiate runners while Dalanne Bartlette rounded out the scoring with a 53rd-place finish amongst collegiate runners in 21:15.5.


Competing unattached, Carly Paracholski ran the fastest time of the day for the Sun Devils as she clocked a time of 18:34.7, which was the fourth-fastest time overall on the day. 


The Sun Devils return to action next weekend at the Wisconsin Invitational in Madison where the ASU ‘A’ teams be in competition as the team looks to earn valuable points towards an NCAA Championship bid.