Carter Takes First, Baker Cross Country Sweeps Titles at Grand View Invite

DES MOINES, Iowa – Along with a first-place finish from women's runner Haley Carter, Baker cross country swept the team titles at the Grand View Invite on Saturday morning in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Wildcat women (49) edged out second-place MidAmerica Nazarene (52) in a top-four that featured exclusively teams from the Heart of America Athletic Conference. Benedictine (96) came in third and Grand View (103) followed in fourth, while Peru State (161) and Graceland (167), who were also competing in Des Moines, took seventh and eighth, respectively.

Carter set a new personal 6K record en route to her first race win of the season, running a 23:22.72 to lead a field that included over 50 runners (52). Ellie Barnard (24:36.80) and Natalie Kennedy (24:42.74) each earned top-10 finishes, crossing in back-to-back spots in sixth and seventh.

Jana Landreth finished right at the 25-minute mark to place 12th and Haley Thompson (27:18.30) rounded out BU's scoring, coming in 25th.

The BU men came out ahead in the 8K race, totaling 44 points to lead a pack that included Benedictine (52), Hastings (58) and Grand View (94) finishing behind Baker in the top-half of the field.

Luke Persson was the first BU runner to cross, logging a time of 27:38.47 to place fifth. Jacob McGlasson (27:52.07) and Cutter Meade (28:04.48) each turned in top-10 times with McGlasson earning an eighth-place finish and Meade following in 10th.

Grayson Fink ran a 28:23.82 to finish in 13th and Grant Gogis took 19th after just finishing under the 29-minute mark at 28:58.18.

Baker will take some time off before returning to host its second home meet of the season, with the 2025 Mike Spielman Classic scheduled for Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. at the Baldwin City Golf Course.

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