ELON, N.C. – The Elon University cross country programs hosted its second meet of the season, the Phoenix Invitational, on Friday, Oct. 18. The maroon and gold shined on its home course with the men's team taking gold along with individual titles in both races for Evan Taylor and Jasmine Young.
 
The Phoenix men scored 40 points in the 8K race, beating out VCU (49) and fellow CAA member College of Charleston (56). Taylor won medalist honors while teammate Caden Strickland was the runner-up in the race. This is the first team championship for the Elon men at a meet since 2019.
 
On the women's side, Elon finished second overall with 52 points in the 6K run. College of Charleston won the race with 29 points while VCU was third with 79. Young took the first win of her cross country career to pace the Phoenix women.
 
Men's Recap
• Taylor posted a time of 25:27.8 in the men's 8K to lead the Phoenix for the first time this season. It is also the first individual title for the Milton, Ontario, native in his career.
• Strickland was the overall runner-up in the race as the Roswell, Ga., native had a time of 25:38.5. The junior has been in the top two for the Elon men in every race so far this season.
• Josh Driscoll earned a top-10 finish with the rookie coming across the line in seventh overall. He posted a time of 26:14.4. Another freshman, Jack Kane, was 14^th overall with his time of 26:42.8.
• Braden Anthes was the fifth runner for Elon with the junior posting a time of 27:16.5 and was 20^th overall.
 
Women's Recap
• Young's time of 21:58.7 led the 6K race as the London, England, native paced two Phoenix runners in the top 10. Freshman Karla Hiss was sixth overall with the Paunzhausen, Germany, native clocking a time of 22.22.7.
• Julia Bell was the third runner for the Phoenix with her time of 22:46.7 in 12^th overall. Madi Galindo was 14^th in the race with her time of 22:48.9.
• Freshman Lakyn Schaltenbrand was the fifth Elon runner with her time of 23:27.6 in 21^st, just beating out teammate and fellow rookie Ella Kane, who was 22^nd with her time of 23:30.5.
 
On Deck
Select members of the Elon women's team will compete tomorrow, Oct. 19, at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Madison, Wisc. The Phoenix will race in the 6K "B" race, which is scheduled to start at 1:40 p.m.
 
Men's Results – Elon 1^st place (40 points)
1. Evan Taylor – 25:27.8
2. Caden Strickland – 25:38.5
7. Josh Driscoll – 26:14.4
14. Jack Kane – 26:42.8
20. Braden Anthes – 27:16.5
24. Bryan Hampson – 27:23.5
30. Seth Steiner – 27:38.3
31. Colby Robbins – 27:46.6
36. Ian Johnson – 28:11.7
43. Tyler Mastrangelo – 29:14.9
51. Michael Koenig – 29:51.0
 
Women's Results – Elon 2^nd place (52 points)
1. Jasmine Young – 21:58.7
6. Karla Hiss – 22:22.7
12. Julia Bell – 22:46.7
14. Madi Galindo – 22:48.9
21. Lakyn Schaltenbrand – 23:27.6
22. Ella Kane – 23:30.5
24. Maddie Priest – 23:40.6
30. Addison George – 24:11.5
31. Amelia Summers – 24:21.3
50. Almé Jordaan – 27:00.8