App State cross country teams hosted the Fire Tower Project on Friday, competing on their home course. The Mountaineers' men's team achieved a third-place finish overall, accumulating a team score of 62. The women's team also competed, securing seventh place overall with a team score of 173. Both "Black and Gold" squads demonstrated strong individual performances throughout the event.
The App State men's team, known as the Black and Gold, showcased significant depth by placing seven runners within the top 25 finishers. Junior Noah Martinson led the charge for the Mountaineers, securing an impressive ninth-place finish in the 8K race with a time of 24 minutes, 21.5 seconds. Close behind Martinson was freshman Jackson Tuck, who claimed the tenth spot with a time of 24 minutes, 24.8 seconds. Junior Thomas Wlazlowski also delivered a top-tier performance, finishing just outside the top ten in eleventh place with a time of 24 minutes, 28.6 seconds.
Further solidifying the team's strong showing, junior Rowan Gwin crossed the finish line in fourteenth place, recording a time of 24 minutes, 37.1 seconds. Junior Derek Waite followed, earning nineteenth place with a time of 24 minutes, 55.3 seconds. Sophomore Aidan Morrow secured the twenty-first position, completing the course in 25 minutes, 0.2 seconds. Rounding out the seven App State runners in the top 25, freshman Beason Tuck finished twenty-third with a time of 25 minutes, 1.7 seconds, underscoring the team's collective effort.
On the women’s side, the Black and Gold also exhibited consistent performances, with seven of their runners finishing within the top 50. Sophomore Tessa Massa was the top finisher for App State, securing thirty-second place overall with a time of 22 minutes, 37.2 seconds. She was closely followed by freshman Sadie Wortman, who earned thirty-fourth place with a time of 22 minutes, 43.7 seconds. Sophomore Ashby Williams also contributed to the team's effort, finishing thirty-fifth with a time of 22 minutes, 46.5 seconds.
Junior Bre Budzinski secured thirty-eighth place, clocking in at 22 minutes, 56.3 seconds. Sophomore Josie Jackson finished just behind her, taking thirty-ninth place with a time of 22 minutes, 59.5 seconds. Junior Baylor Wolfe was right on Jackson's heels, earning fortieth place with a time of 22 minutes, 59.6 seconds. Concluding the group of top-50 finishers for the Mountaineers, senior Rhys Ammon placed forty-seventh, with a time of 23 minutes, 23.6 seconds, highlighting the team's broad representation in the upper ranks.
The App State cross country teams are scheduled to continue their season later this month. The Black and Gold will travel to College Station, Texas, to compete in the Arturos Barrios Invitational, which is set to take place on October 16.
