Pride cross country continues fall at Les Dukes Invitational

GRINNELL, Iowa - Getting back on the run after being away from competition the week after their 2025 season opener, the Clarke University cross country teams participated solely as individuals on Saturday morning at the Les Dukes Invitational in Grinnell, Iowa.

Both Pride men and women competed with four runners, one shy of the amount needed for a team score as junior Drew Pate once again highlighted the day for CU as a program with a top-10 individual finish of the 8K race with his final time of 27:25.3 to lead the way for the men while Jaycie Franco also led the women for the second-straight race with her 29th place 26:00.5 in the 6K race.

Rounding out the women's times for Clarke were sophomore Bridget Bracy's 27:27.1, freshman Lexie Dukas running a 31:17.1, and freshman Lilli Green clocking in at 37:25.5 as both freshmen competed in their first ever 6K race.

Not far behind Pate's 10th place finish was Chesney Capron who put up a 27:52.1 for an individual 18th place finish, Bryce Kondos ran a 29:45.3, and Eric Chatham finished up the Pride men's times at a 30:43.7.

Clarke cross country will continue their schedule of a week on and a week off of competition when they have next week off while training for their next race on Sept. 26 at the Dutch Cross Country Open in Pella, Iowa.