SAN FRANCISCO — The Jessup University men's and women's cross country teams officially opened their autumn campaign on Friday, competing against a deep field of regional and West Coast talent at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Facing challenging terrain and damp coastal conditions, both squads delivered encouraging early-season performances, establishing key split times across both halves of their respective races to lay the groundwork for the fall season.

In the Men's 8K, the Warriors displayed strong tactical pacing throughout the four-lap course. Through the first half of the race at the 4K mark, Jessup's lead pack maintained a steady, calculated pace, positioning themselves well within striking distance of the dense middle field. As the field stretched out during the final two loops, the Warriors held their momentum over the closing 4K stretch to secure solid individual finishes across the board, highlighted by standout Ryden Rivera with a 27:05 mark.

"Some great debuts by our freshmen on the Men's side," said head coach Jordan Kurtz after the meet. "Ryden Rivera ran strong and ran one of the fastest season openers for the Men's program in the past 5 years. While our returner put in a solid summer of work, it was great to see Antonio have a breakthrough race with a huge PR as well."

On the women's side, the Warriors took to the course for the Women's 6K. Jessup ran a disciplined first half through the opening 3K mark before unleashing an aggressive second half over the final 3K. The squad demonstrated exceptional grit on the late-race inclines, methodically moving up through the pack and executing tight scoring gaps between their top runners to lock in impressive individual and team split differentials. Returning vet Angela Gladysh led for the Warriors, finishing with a 22:11.5 mark.

"I loved how we raced on the women's side - we all progressed through the field and moved up well over the last 2k. Angela moving up 11 spots to grab a top-40 finish in the crowded field was great execution of championship-style racing and fantastic to see in a season opener," said Kurtz.

With a successful first outing under their belts, the Warriors now turn their attention to their next competitive test on the schedule. "Excited to build on the momentum next week on a faster course and a rare XC meet under the lights!" added Kurtz, as Jessup prepares to carry its early-season strength into evening competition.  
About Jessup University Athletics Jessup University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).