WAVERLY, Iowa -- The NAIA No. 7-ranked University of St. Francis women's cross country team claimed its first meet title of the 2026 season when it captured the Wartburg College (Iowa) Dan Huston Invitational on Saturday morning.
With USF's five scoring runners all placing in the Top 20 of the 198-person field, the Fighting Saints totaled 30 points to best runner-up Grace College (Ind.) by 15 points as well as the other 19 competing teams.
St. Francis'
Carmen Solis came away as the individual champion. She paced the field with her time of 22:14.4 on the 6K course, edging out teammate
Evita Martinez for top honors. Martinez was just eight-tenths of one second behind at 22:15.2.
Other Saints placing among the Top 10 performers were
Savannah Richmond and
Dyannara Franco. Richmond finished sixth at 22:48, while Franco was one spot back with her time of 22:50.7.
Providing USF's final points was
Aaralyn Martinez. Her 23:22.1 effort landed her in the No. 18 spot.
Up Next
The Saints will take their first-place momentum into the Aquinas College (Mich.) Great Lakes Challenge on Oct. 24.Â
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