DePaul Men Claim Huskie Opener Team Title

Friday, September 4

DeKalb, Ill.

6:15 P.M.

DePaul University

Huskie Opener

9/4/2026 10:09:00 PM | CROSS COUNTRY

Urbaniak, Krieg capture individual victories in season opener

DEKALB, Ill. – DePaul cross country opened its 2026 campaign with a pair of individual victories and a men's team title Friday evening at the Huskie Opener.

Senior Kalina Urbaniak and freshman Alex Krieg claimed individual titles for the Blue Demons while the DePaul men placed five runners inside the top six to secure the team victory. The women finished third overall.

Urbaniak started the evening with a win in the women's 5K, crossing the line in 18:06.40. The senior's performance moves her to No. 5 on DePaul's all-time 5K list.

"Kalina ran her best collegiate cross-country race to date," said head coach Geoff Wayton. "I thought our women ran aggressively early, backed off in the middle and then finished great."

DePaul placed five runners among the top 13 in the women's race, with Urbaniak's victory joined by seventh-, 11th-, 12th-, and 13th-place finishes.

The Blue Demon men followed with a dominant showing in the 6K, sweeping the top three positions and placing five runners inside the top six.

Krieg made an immediate impact in his collegiate debut, winning the race in 19:00.13. Fellow freshman Kiefer Barnes finished runner-up in 19:07.48, while Senior Mason Krieg completed DePaul's sweep of the podium with a third-place finish in 19:12.73.

"The men were incredible," said Wayton. "Alex Krieg ran an awesome race as a true freshman. Kiefer was incredible, another true freshman right behind. I'm really happy with our depth and how we controlled the race."

DePaul added fifth and sixth place finishes to round out its top five performers, whilst seven blue Demons finished in the top 10 overall.

UP NEXT
DePaul returns to action Friday, Sept 18, at the National Catholic Championships, hosted by Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.

FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all of the latest on DePaul Cross Country, Track & Field, stay tuned to DePaulBlueDemons.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

Huskie Opener Results
North 40 Championship Golf Course
Friday, September 4

Men's 6K
1. Alex Krieg - 19:00.13
2. Kiefer Barnes - 19:07.48
3. Mason Krieg - 19:12.73
5. Cole Tupper - 19:38.63
6. Bryce Counihan - 19:39.24
8. Daniel Grauer - 19:45.81
10. Caden Wolfe - 19:52.83
13. Jackson Hopkins - 20:06.14
21. Kyle Friedl - 20:31.84
25. Jack Broghammer - 20:59.32
27. Hunter Bostwick - 21:20.82
29. Reid Waco - 21:32.93

Women's 5K
1. Kalina Urbaniak - 18:06.40
7. Isabella Orozco - 18:52.54
11. Vivian Wyller - 19:15.26
12. Ava Helmbrecht - 19:16.38
13. Cece Hilby - 19:25.74
14. Sammi Rastrelli - 19:32.09
19. Rosie Gonzalez - 19:55.58
23. Frances Melinn - 20:06.02
24. Sara Cordova - 20:07.69
26. Juli Hoover - 20:18.11
28. Hayden McGuire - 20:21.54
31. Lucy McNally - 20:37.88
35. Macy Leahy - 20:49.53
36. Gianna Sanchez - 20:52.34
43. Grace Havern - 22:30.52