The Idaho Vandals continued their strong start to the cross country season at the Montana Invite in Missoula, with the women’s team finishing second and the men placing third. The performances gave Idaho another opportunity to compete against Big Sky competition while building momentum as the season moves closer to championship competition.
The Montana Invite also provided several Vandals with opportunities to build on their earlier performances. After showing improvement from the team’s previous meet, Idaho saw strong individual efforts across both races, including a standout season debut from senior Constanze Paoli and another solid performance from junior Alex Terry.
For the women, Paoli made an immediate impact in her first race of the season. The senior won the 5K competition with a time of 17:11.4, giving Idaho a strong presence at the front of the field.
After a successful track and field season last year, Paoli’s return to cross country provides another important piece for the Vandals heading into her senior season. Her first-place finish gives Idaho an early indication of what she can contribute as the team continues through the fall.
Terry also continued to establish herself near the front of the competition. The junior finished third in the 5K, following up on her strong performance from Idaho’s previous competition in Spokane.
With Paoli and Terry both finishing among the top three, the Vandals received two important results at the front of their lineup. Their performances helped Idaho secure second place as a team and gave the women’s squad another strong result to build on.
Junior Pia Kircher and Mary Nakamura also finished inside the top 20, adding valuable depth to the women’s team. Their finishes helped strengthen Idaho’s overall team score and showed that the Vandals were able to receive contributions from multiple runners.
The women’s result is especially encouraging as Idaho continues to develop its lineup throughout the season. With several runners contributing near the top of the field, the Vandals have begun to establish a strong foundation heading toward the more important meets later in the year.
The men’s team also finished third in Missoula, led by senior Zac Knapp.
Knapp delivered his strongest 8K performance of the season, crossing the finish line in 24:58.5. His improvement provided an important boost for the Vandals and showed progress from his earlier races.
Freshman Miles Lechtenberg continued his impressive introduction to collegiate cross country by finishing 12th. After making an immediate impact in his first collegiate meet earlier this month, Lechtenberg once again showed that he can compete against experienced runners and contribute to Idaho’s team results.
Sophomore Conor Thompson finished just behind Lechtenberg in 14th, giving Idaho another strong result toward the front of its lineup.
The performances from Lechtenberg and Thompson also give the men’s team a promising combination of younger runners alongside experienced athletes such as Knapp. As the season continues, that mix could become increasingly important as Idaho looks to improve its team results.
The Montana Invite also gave Idaho another chance to measure itself against several Big Sky opponents. Competing against familiar conference competition provided the Vandals with valuable experience and another opportunity to identify areas where they can continue improving.
For the women, Paoli’s season debut and Terry’s continued consistency were two of the biggest highlights. Kircher and Nakamura also provided important depth, helping Idaho finish second as a team.
On the men’s side, Knapp’s season-best time was a key development, while Lechtenberg continued to make an impression during his first collegiate season. Thompson’s 14th-place finish added another strong result to the lineup.
Overall, the Montana Invite gave Idaho another positive step forward as the season progresses. Both teams finished among the top three, while several individual runners either continued strong performances or showed improvement from previous races.
The Vandals will now have two weeks to prepare for their next competition. Idaho will return to Spokane, Washington, for the Whitworth Invitational on Saturday, October 3.
With the championship portion of the season getting closer, the Vandals will look to use their performances in Missoula as another building block. The women will enter the next meet after a second-place team finish, while the men will look to build on their third-place result and the continued development of several key runners.
The Montana Invite did not mark the end goal for Idaho, but it provided another opportunity for the program to improve. Paoli’s winning debut, Terry’s continued success, Knapp’s season-best performance and the progress of Lechtenberg and Thompson all give the Vandals individual performances to build around as they continue toward championship season.
The Vandals next meet will be hosted in Spokane, Washington at the Whitworth Invitational on Saturday, October 3.