SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – Northern Kentucky University Norse men's and women's cross country programs continued the 2026 campaign on Friday evening, racing in the Crimson Pride Invite, hosted by IU Columbus. The Norse women placed first overall as Grace Biddle led the way with her second event victory of the year, while the Norse men finished in third. The women ran a five-kilometer race while the men ran an eight-k. 

THE BASICS
RESULTS: Men - 3rd/5 - 87 points | Women - 1st/5 - 25 points
LOCATION: Blue River XC Course – Shelbyville, Ind. 
MEET: Crimson Pride Invite

NOTABLES - WOMEN
– Biddle clocked a time of 18:32.75 in the 5K race, finishing first overall by over 45 seconds. It marked her second event victory of the 2026 campaign and her fourth of her career. 
– Sami Govey finished in fourth overall, running a 19:28.96.
– Behind Govey was Emily Foley in fifth, who clocked a time of 19:33.18.
– Carlie Condit ran a 19:36.13, finishing seventh overall. 
– Julia Verhoff ran a 19:49.16, finishing in eighth place. 
– Brittany Arnold finished in 11th overall, running a 20:13.02.

NOTABLES - MEN
– Nathan Ruth led the Norse with a time of 26:45.98 in the 8k, finishing eighth. 
– Brady Messer ran a 27:22.65, finishing 17th. 
– Noah Towne ran a 27:51.63, coming in 24th overall.
– Gregory Beard finished 27th, running a 28:06.92. 

UP NEXT
NKU heads to Louisville on October 3, running in the Louisville Classic Cross Country Invitational.

FOLLOW NKU NORSE CROSS COUNTRY
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I college cross country teams through @NKUNorseXCTF on Twitter, @nkunorsexctf on Instagram, Northern Kentucky University Cross Country/Track & Field on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.