SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The University of San Francisco men's and women's cross country programs kicked off the 2025 season on a high note, earning first-place team finishes at the USF Invitational on Friday afternoon at Golden Gate Park.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
- In her first-ever 6k for the green and gold, Anna Buettner outpaced the field and earned a first-place finish with a time of 20:27.8.
- Along with Buettner's performance, Jessica Spilsbury (eighth – 21:19.8), Petra Helebrantová (ninth – 21:22.8), and Poppy Martin (10th – 21:24.7) secured top-10 finishes to guide the Dons.
- On the men's side, five team members placed in the top-10, with Zach Elam finishing the 8k in second place at 24:16.5.
- In their Division I debut, Herbie Johnson and Luca Minale posted sixth and ninth place finishes at 24:36.4 and 24:57.3, respectively.
- As a team, the women secured the first-place finish with 44 points, while Stanford (46 points), California (95 points), Nevada (154 points), and UC Davis (157 points) completed the top five. For the men, the green and gold dominated the field with 21 points. UC Davis (87 points), California (103 points), Santa Clara (129 points), and Stanford (135 points) rounded out the top teams.
TOP FINISHERS:
Men:
2. Zach Elam – 24:16.5
5. Ethan O'Shea – 24:34.4
6. Herbie Johnson - 24:36.4
7. Daniel Abramowicz – 24:45.3
9. Luca Minale – 24:57.3
Women:
1. Anna Buettner – 20:27.8
8. Jessica Spilsbury – 21:19.8
9. Petra Helebrantová – 21:22.8
10. Poppy Martin – 21:24.7
UP NEXT:
San Francisco returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 13, when it competes in the Kim Duyst Invitational, hosted by Stanislaus State.
FOLLOW US:
For more information on the San Francisco cross country and track and field programs, follow @donsxctf on Twitter, @donsxctf on Instagram and @donsxctf on Facebook.
MERCHANDISE:
Want to dress like the Dons? Get your official San Francisco Dons gear from the University of San Francisco bookstore today! Click here to purchase.
SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor – ABM – for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.
