First road win for BYU women's cross country

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The lights run by generators shimmered in the cool weather as the runners got ready for the race. The Reno Twilight Classic hosted a race at 9:20 p.m. Saturday night, on a dirt road trail around a mountain, as the first road meet for the BYU women’s cross country team.

Ashleigh Warner, a freshman from Orem, finished the race as the top runner for the Cougars at 14 minutes and 44 seconds and came in second overall for the meet. Three other newcomers from the BYU team rounded up the top six, finding success in their first collegiate career race.

Freshman Danica Wyson finished second for BYU and third overall (14:46), teammate Rachel Stewart came third for BYU and fifth overall (14:54), and Laura Young finished fourth for BYU and sixth overall (14:55).

BYU finished the meet with 24 total points, as the host school, the University of Nevada—Reno, finished with 38. Utah (83) and UNLV (102) finished third and fourth to round up all four collegiate teams in attendance.

Danica Wyson, a freshman from Laguna Niguel, Calif., who came in second for BYU, said of her first collegiate race experience:

“I felt good and nervous getting my strength in collegiate running … it felt good to be done though,” Wyson said in a telephone interview. “It wasn’t too big of a field to run and having the other BYU girls to push me and each other  helped me a lot. It was great to have teammates there running with me.”

The BYU Autumn Classic will be held at the Cougar’s home course at the Cascade Golf Course in Orem on Sept. 14.

BYU brought 13 runners and they all finished in the top 20, something head coach Patrick Shane said he hoped his team would accomplish at this meet. With an optimistic season ahead, Shane has this weekend to anticipate more results from his runners.

“We’re looking forward to showcase this group and others who haven’t ran yet,” Shane said in a telephone interview. “We’re looking back to go home for our home meet and get back to training.”

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