Career-bests highlight Griffs at National Catholic Invitational

By: Cassandra Ercoli, Sports Reporter

Highlighted by senior Kyle Urban’s top-20 performance in the men’s event, the Canisius cross country teams posted two top-ten finishes for the second-consecutive year this past weekend at National Catholic Invitational in South Bend, IN. 

Urban led the men’s team to a sixth place finish with his 15th place performance in the men’s 8km event with a time of 24:46.6, topping his career-best of 24:47.2 that was set at the 2024 MAAC Outdoor Championships last fall. 

Fellow senior Brody Jones took home 24th with a time of 25:21.0, while rookie Daniel Granville rounded out the Blue and Gold’s top-three performers finishing 41st (26:15.2). Jones also posted a career-best in the 8km event, surpassing his time from last fall’s Canisius Alumni Classic by 39.1 seconds. Sophomores Fenway Breckels and Brady Giglia placed in the better half of the 139 competitor field, placing 50th and 54th respectively. 

On the women’s side, sophomore Clara Sundberg paced the women’s team to a seventh place finish, crossing the line at 36th and marking her second-consecutive team-leading finish. Her time of 19:00.7 marked another career-best for the Griffs, improving on last year’s performance at the National Catholic Invitational of 19:50.7. 

Freshman Julia Gullo also produced a top-50 finish with her time of 19:23.5, which was good enough for 43rd. Junior Brooke Podgorski also finished in the top half of the field, sitting at 57th with her own career-best time of 20:07.6. Redshirt junior Mara Mariani (5K), junior Peyton Spatorico (8K) and sophomore Mason Allee-Castro (8K) rounded out the Griffs who recorded career-best times in their respective events. 

Host Notre Dame claimed both team titles, with the men’s team scoring 20 points and the women’s team scoring 15. Loyola (55) and Lewis (110) rounded out the men’s podium, while Lewis (69) and DePaul (79) completed the women’s podium.

The Golden Griffins are back on the course Oct. 3 when they travel to Bethlehem, Pa. for the Paul Short Run, hosted by Lehigh.

Photo Courtesy of Canisius Athletics