When the Western Colorado University trail running team arrived just outside Moab, Utah for the 2024 Collegiate Trail Running Championships on Nov. 2, they had a target on their backs.
After taking top honors at the championships last year, the Mountaineers were the team to beat. But their backs were the only thing the competition saw as the Mountaineer team ran away with the championship title for the second consecutive year.
The team’s strong showing was no accident. After an intense season, the athletes arrived in Moab ready to tackle the world-famous terrain, ranging from challenging uphills, downhills, technical sections and stretches of fast dirt-road running. Their preparation paid off, with Western securing the top mixed-team score by combining the best times from two male and two female runners.
Head Coach Josh Eberly, celebrating his 10th year leading the program, praised the athletes' effort and resilience.
“The entire team showed up and gave their best effort,” he said. “This race was an A-goal for most of them, and with a great taper leading up to it, they performed exceptionally well.”
Western’s team placed 26 runners in the half-marathon and another six runners in the full marathon. The races took place on the rugged trails of Kane Creek, following the Pritchett Canyon Trail before connecting to Hunter Canyon. The event drew top athletes from across the nation.
Western’s Anders Hekkli claimed first place in the men's half-marathon, followed closely by teammate Bayden Menton in second. Nate Rengo and Frank DeCew finished fourth and fifth, respectively, showing just how Western dominated the field.
On the women’s side, Adah Chapman led the charge with an impressive second-place finish, while Maisy Morley and Amelie Lepple crossed the line in fourth and fifth — rounding out an impressive showing by Western’s female athletes.
In the marathon division, Zane Wasicko and Ryan Welsh finished fifth and eighth. McKenzie McConnell notched a personal best by shaving 10 minutes off her previous time.
Trail running on the rise
As one of the country's few collegiate trail running teams, Western is at the cutting edge of a growing sport. The program has even earned a coveted sponsorship from Adidas Terrex, which provides athletes with equipment for the season.
“Collegiate trail running is still a relatively new concept, and not many colleges have a dedicated trail running team like ours,” Eberly said. “However, we saw more competition this year compared to last, with more collegiate runners joining the event. We're excited to see this growth and look forward to welcoming even more teams and runners at our next championship.”
Many of Western’s Mountain Sports trail running athletes are already making the winter transition, and are training for Nordic ski racing, or the ever-growing sport of ski mountaineering — slated to make its Olympic debut in 2026.
With a large roster, the trail running team is poised to continue its success into 2025 and beyond.
“Our program has produced many top-tier athletes over the years, and we currently have a strong roster of talented, hard-working athletes who are ranked among the best regionally and nationally,” Eberly said. “This team is one to watch, as the investment in their development is consistently producing exceptional trail and ultra runners.”
(Seth Mensing is the media and communications manager at Western Colorado University.)
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here