Flurry of Personal Bests Highlight Cross Country’s Performance at Butler Twilight

Friday, September 3

Carmel, Ind. // Northview Church Course

DePaul University

Butler Twilight

Flurry of Personal Bests Highlight Cross Country’s Performance at Butler Twilight

9/3/2021 7:46:00 PM | CROSS COUNTRY

Dominic Bruce turns in top-10 finish with personal best time

CARMEL, Ind. – The DePaul men's and women's cross country squads closed out the first race of the fall slate with a strong showing at the Butler Twilight at the Northview Church Course on Friday evening.

Nine Blue Demons, including three freshmen making their collegiate debuts, finished with personal bests in their respective races.

On the men's side, the Blue Demons finished fourth out of six teams competing. Senior Dominic Bruce led the way with a seventh-place performance with a personal best time of 18.17.1 in the 6K race. At the Butler Open in 2018, Bruce ran a 20:19.0 at the same distance.

Senior Shane Knanishu recorded a 6K personal best and was the second DePaul runner to cross the finish at 18:31.9 to finish 15^th. Griffin Lehnhardt in his first race as a Blue Demon finished 31st with a mark of 19:09.5. Kansas grad transfer Gavin Glaza finished closely behind Lehnahardt in 32nd for a personal best mark of 19:10.6 Glaza's previous 6K time of 20:43.5 came in 2019 at the Bob Simmons Classic.

The women's squad finished seventh in the season opening event with Junior Alexa Havon leading the charge with a top-35 finish at a 19:11.7 mark. Madison Volz, making her collegiate debut, finished within striking distance of Havon at 19:26.0 to finish 39th. Sophomore Lesley Viveros rounded out the top-three in 45th at 19:45.2.

Ericka Burgess shaved off 32 seconds of her previous personal best time in the 5K and finished right behind Viveros at 19:45.5. Meghan Dieball, competing in just her third cross country race in her career, took off 28 seconds from last year's 5K time at Eastern Illinois Open with a 19:50.3 mark.

The Blue Demons will hit the road again on Friday, Sept. 10 for the Badger Classic hosted at the Zimmer Championship Course in Madison, Wisconsin.

Butler Twilight Results
Northview Church Course (Carmel, Ind.)
Men's 6K -- (4th of 6)
7. Dominic Bruce – 18.17.1 (PB)
15. Shane Knanishu – 18:31.9 (PB)
31. Griffin Lehnhardt – 19.09.5 (PB)
32. Gavin Glaza – 19:10.6 (PB)
34. Damian Rodriguez – 19:16.6
43. Jackson Thomas – 19:44.4
49. Joe Knanishu – 20:02.3
52. Tommy Elwood – 20:09.9
59. Tyler Ackerman – 20:41.9
63. Andy Thompson – 20:56.0

Women's 5K -- (7th of 7)
34. Alexa Havon – 19:11.7
39. Madison Volz – 19:26.0 (PB)
45. Lesley Viveros – 19:45.2 (PB)
46. Ericka Burgess – 19:45.5 (PB)
48. Meghan Dieball – 19:50.3 (PB)
57. Meaghan Andrews – 20:28.2 (PB)