Cary, NC – The NC State Cross Country team opened its season on Friday night at the adidas XC Challenge, with the women taking first place while Brett Gardner’s The victory helped the men’s team to second place.

senior Brett Gardner took first place in the 6 km race with a time of 17:37.2, with teammate Toby Gualter followed closely behind with a personal best time of 17:39.4 and took second place. The rest of the Wolfpack team included JJ Malach (18:39.4), Wesley Larson (18:27.9), Jimmy Mullarkey (18:28.4), Kevin Antczak (18:31.4) and Matthew Bogdan (18:32.3).

Gardner, Gualter, Malach, Larson and Mullarkey were the top five finishers, rounding out NC State’s score of 51, securing second place in the team standings.

In the women’s 5 km race Grace Hartman was the first NC State runner to cross the finish line. Hartman finished fourth with a time of 16:25.9, closely followed by his teammates Hannah Gapes (16:26.6), Fiona Smith (16:53.8), Kate Putman (17:04.3) and Angelina Napoleon (17:10.8), who finished fifth, sixth, eighth and eleventh. Their performances secured the team the top spot with a score of 34 and gave them a victory over Clemson, which finished with 51 points.

Squad members Caroline Murrell (17:29.8), Ellie Shea (17:39.4) and Olivia Haas (18:19.6) also competed with the pack.

Next

The Wolf Pack returns to action on Friday, October 4, when they travel to the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational and the ECU Pirate Invitational.

Results: 6 km, men

Brett Gardner (17:37.2) (1.)

Toby Gualter (17:39.4) (2.)

JJ Malach (18:05.5) (13.)

Wesley Larson (18:27.9) (24.)

Jimmy Mullarkey (18:28.4) (25.)

Kevin Antczak (18:31.4) (26.)

Matthew Bogdan (18:32.3) (27.)

UNADAPTABLE

Noah Vaylo (17:52.1) (5.)

Brayden Marshall (18:24.9) (19.)

Tyler interface (18:36.1) (31.)

Results of the women’s 5 km run

Grace Hartman (16:25.9) (4.)

Hannah Gapes (16:26.6) (5.)

Fiona Smith (16:53.8) (6.)

Kate Putman (17:04.3) (8.)

Angelina Napoleon (17:10.8) (11.)

Caroline Murrell (17:29.8) (20.)

Ellie Shea (17:39.4) (26.)

Olivia Haas (18:19.6) (44.)

UNATTACHED:

Chandler Welsh (18:09.2) (37.)