Friday’s Wisconsin adidas Invitational was likely one of the most competitive meets that UCLA cross country competed in during this regular season. Entering the meet, coach Forest Braden said that it was one of the biggest regular season meets in recent UCLA cross country history.
There were 19 ranked men’s programs there and 22 ranked women’s teams. The Bruins’ men’s team – ranked No. 9 entering the meet – had a chance to live up to its ranking, while the women’s team – ranked just outside the top 30 prior to the meet – had a chance to prove itself as one of the nation’s elite.
Both teams ended up capitalizing on their respective opportunities on Friday in Madison, Wis., as the UCLA men’s team finished seventh and the women’s team finished 20th. When those two teams’ placings are averaged out, the resulting number is 13.5 – which is nearly nine places higher than UCLA cross country’s average placement in its last three years of competing in the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.
As for individual performances, UCLA junior Nick Hartle finished 15th in the men’s 8k race with a time of 24:06. Among the other individual Pac-12 competitors in the meet, Hartle ranked fourth.
In the women’s 6k race, the first Bruin to finish was senior Kelsey Smith, who placed 61st overall with a time of 20:49.
Following the prestigious Wisconsin meet, UCLA will have one more regular season meet on Friday at the Titan Invitational in Fullerton, followed by the Pac-12 championships in Oakland on Oct. 31.
Compiled by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.