James Holloway/WVU Tech

Golden Bears open season at Eagle Challenge

9/1/2026 9:23:00 PM

Women's and Men's Cross Country

BRIDGEWATER, Va. — WVU Tech cross country opened the 2026 season Tuesday evening at the Eagle Cross Country Challenge, highlighted by top-10 finishes from Lexie Wikel and Evan McElwayne.

Wikel led the Golden Bear women with a fifth-place finish in the 4K, while McElwayne placed seventh in the men's 6K. On the team side, the WVU Tech men finished fourth with 79 points.

Women's race

Wikel turned in a time of 17:37.93 to finish fifth overall in the 26-runner field.

Peyton Asbury also represented WVU Tech, crossing the line in 23:08.51 to finish 20th. With two Golden Bears competing in the women's race, WVU Tech did not record a team score.

Men's race

McElwayne paced a 10-runner WVU Tech contingent, covering the 6K course in 21:05.44 to finish seventh overall.

Jan Ponsa gave the Golden Bears a second top-10 finisher, placing 10th in 21:48.68. Freshmen Maddox Wickline and Evan Bishop followed in 21st and 22nd, respectively, in their collegiate cross country debuts. Wickline finished in 22:46.93, while Bishop crossed in 22:51.79.

Eli Jordan rounded out Tech's five scoring runners, placing 25th in 23:10.24 as the Golden Bears totaled 79 points to finish fourth.

Freshman Tristan Toler also made his collegiate debut, finishing 30th in 23:31.38. Chucky Jordan was 42nd in 25:51.42, followed by Cade Curfman in 44th with a time of 26:10.88.

Freshmen David Northrop and Jayzen Grace completed the Golden Bear lineup in their debuts. Northrop finished 46th in 27:06.67, while Grace crossed 47th in 30:11.38.