Mountaineers Excel at Firetower Project Run As Men Claim Victory, Women Finish Runner-Up

Image Courtesy Of App State Website

Appalachian State’s cross country programs delivered impressive performances at Friday’s Firetower Project Run, with the men’s team capturing first place while the women’s squad earned a strong second-place finish in the team standings.

Men Dominate with Season-Best Performance

The men’s team secured victory with a season-low 23 points, showing exceptional depth and competitive execution. Sophomore Aaron Kidd led the charge in the 8K race, clocking 24:37.2 to finish first overall. His winning time came within six seconds of his personal best of 24:31.2 established in 2024.

The Mountaineers’ dominance was evident as five runners joined Kidd in the top ten, sweeping fourth through eighth positions. Sophomore Noah Martinson achieved an 8K personal best of 24:54.6 to claim fourth place, followed closely by Chase Burrell’s fifth-place finish in 24:54.9.

Senior Ethan Lipham crossed in sixth with a time of 24:58.0, while sophomore Thomas Wlazlowski secured seventh place at 24:58.5. Junior Derek Waite capped the Mountaineers’ top-ten surge by finishing eighth, improving his previous personal best by 24 seconds with a time of 25:06.0.

William & Mary finished second in the men’s team standings with 35 points, followed by Milligan (95), College of Charleston (127), Radford (132), Coastal Carolina (188), Lees-McRae (231), The Citadel (238), SCAD Savannah (246), Erskine (278), and Lenoir-Rhyne (316).

Women’s Squad Shows Promising Depth

The women’s team accumulated 81 points to finish second behind William & Mary’s winning score of 37 points. Sophomore Breanna Budzinski led the Mountaineers for the second meet this fall, improving her 6K personal best by one second with a time of 21:50.4 to place eighth overall.

A talented freshman quartet showed the program’s bright future by finishing among the top 25 while each recording personal bests. Elizabeth McCart clocked 22:08.5 to place 13th, closely followed by Josie Jackson who finished 15th with a time of 22:11.7. Tessa Massa placed 22nd at 22:21.5, while Ashby Williams secured 23rd with a time of 22:23.3.

William & Mary’s Perry Irons won the women’s 6K race with a time of 20:49.2.

The women’s team standings saw Milligan finish third with 103 points, followed by College of Charleston (110), Radford (121), James Madison (122), Coastal Carolina (128), Lenoir-Rhyne (252), SCAD Savannah (256), Lees-McRae (262), The Citadel (333), and Erskine (378).

The Mountaineers will conclude their regular season with a trip to Princeton, New Jersey, for the Princeton Fall Classic on October 17. The women’s 5K is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., with the men’s 8K following at 11:15 a.m.

Both programs shows the depth and talent necessary for successful championship performances as they prepare for the postseason ahead.