LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 4, 2025) — WVU Tech cross country continued to build momentum at the Louisville Classic on Saturday, posting eight new collegiate personal records in one of the region's largest mid-season meets. The Golden Bears raced with confidence in the Silver divisions, showing strong progress from top to bottom as the 2025 campaign reached its midpoint.
Team Finishes
- Men: 16th of 25 teams — 410 points
- Women: Competed in 5K Silver division (two entries, NTS)
Individual Highlights
Men's 8K Silver
- Evan McElwayne (So., Clarksburg, W.Va.) earned a career best with a 26:48.5, breaking his previous mark of 27:05.5 and finishing 24th overall in a 230-plus-runner field. McElwayne, who owns collegiate bests of 15:50.46 (5,000m) and 32:38.91 (10,000m) on the track, continues to pace the Golden Bears.
- Jan Fasius Ponsa (Fr., Manresa, Spain) dropped nearly a full minute off his debut time, running 28:32.5 for a career-best performance.
- Christian Saffouri (Sr., Beckley, W.Va.) turned in another consistent veteran effort, clocking 29:09.2 for his third sub-30 performance of the season.
- Eli Jordan (Fr., Daniels, W.Va.) ran a career-best 29:32.2, improving over two minutes from his Patty Forgey time.
- Travis Anderson (Fr., Ravenswood, W.Va.) crossed in a career-best 31:02.2, showing continued progress through his rookie season.
- Chucky Jordan (Fr., Lake City, S.C.) recorded a career-best 32:12.0, improving by nearly three minutes from his previous 8K.
- Samuel Whitcomb (Sr., Waynesboro, Va.) produced a season-best 35:15.5, contributing crucial depth to the team total.
- Ethan Cavender (Fr., Saint Albans, W.Va.) capped off the lineup with a career-best 35:55.2, cutting nearly three minutes from his previous 8K mark.
The Golden Bears totaled 410 points, finishing ahead of Michigan-Dearborn, Berea and Union (Ky.) in the 25-team field.
Women's 5K Silver
- Lexie Wikel (So., Mullens, W.Va.) posted her second straight PR, finishing in 22:05.0 — a 45-second improvement over her previous 5K best. Wikel now owns collegiate marks of 22:05.0 (5K XC) and 28:42.1 (6K XC).
- Peyton Asbury (So., Hampshire County, W.Va.) followed with a career-best 24:52.5, trimming more than 30 seconds from her prior best.
The duo gained valuable experience competing against more than 200 runners from NCAA and NAIA programs, further strengthening Tech's presence on the women's circuit.
Other Contributors
Under Head Coach Jordan Hosey and Assistant Coach Jessica York, the Golden Bears continue to show steady progress each week. The men's side saw all eight runners record personal or season bests, while the women's pair have dropped significant time since the season opener. WVU Tech's mix of newcomers and veterans is positioning the team well heading into championship season.
What's Next
WVU Tech returns to the course Friday, October 17 at the Jenna Strong Fall Classic in Wilmington, Ohio — the final regular-season meet before the River States Conference Championship on November 8 in Rio Grande, Ohio.
