Friday, September 4
Orem, UT / Scera Park
10 AM
University of Utah
vs
UVU Invitational
Cross Country Set to Open 2026 Campaign Friday at UVU Invitational
9/2/2026 4:10 PM | Cross Country
No. 20 Utah cross country will kick off the 2026 season at the UVU Invitational on Friday, Sept. 4, at Scera Park.
SALT LAKE CITY – The No. 20 Utah cross country team will open its 2026 campaign at Scera Park this Friday, Sept. 4, at the UVU Invitational with a start time of 10 a.m. (MDT).
UVU INVITATIONAL
HOST: Utah Valley
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 4
TIME: 10 a.m. (MDT)
LOCATION: Orem, UT
VENUE: Scera Park
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce, Josie Fale, Brielle Nilsson, Zoey Nilsson, Bri Rinn, Mackenzie Rogers, Piper Simpson
FROM THE LINE
Utah will send eight runners to compete at the UVU Invitational this week. Of the eight, Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce, Josie Fale and Bri Rinn have all competed in this meet previously. Mackenzie Rogers will make her cross country debut as a Ute while the trio of freshmen in Brielle Nilsson, Zoey Nilsson and Piper Simpson will make their collegiate debuts.
Fale is Utah's top finisher among the four that have raced on this 3-mile course, placing seventh-overall with a time of 17:34.86 last year. However, Rinn's time of 17:20.9 back in 2024 is tops between the four. Ayers finished in 17:42.81 last season for 11th with Bruce placing 15th-overall in 18:03.18.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Women of Utah check in at No. 20 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings after returning all five of their scorers from last year's NCAA Championships squad that finished 17th-overall. This marks the fifth-consecutive season Utah has been ranked in the preseason poll and seventh time overall. The Utes also returned their sixth finisher from the championships with the addition of a quartet of veterans to their roster in Bri Rinn (returner), Mackenzie Rogers (redshirt), Tayla Gunton (grad transfer) and Maebh Richardson (transfer).
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Utah's team this season will consist of six fresh faces, two grad transfers in Tayla Gunton and Maebh Richardson and four freshmen in Riley Innes, Brielle Nilsson, Zoey Nilsson and Piper Simpson.
Tayla Gunton | Gr.
Cairns, Australia • St. Andrew's Catholic • Iona
• 2025 ECAC Cross Country Champion
• 4x MAAC Champion (Indoor/Outdoor Track) in 2026
• 2023 MAAC Most Outstanding Runner (XC)
Riley Innes | Fr.
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada • Sir William Mulock Secondary School
• 2026 U20 World Cross Country Championships qualifier (CAN)
• 2024 Canadian U20 Champion (3000m)
• 2x OFSAA Champion in 2023 and 2024
Brielle Nilsson | Fr.
Draper, Utah • Lone Peak HS
• 4x UHSAA 6A State Champion in cross country
• 2023 UHSAA 6A State Track & Field Champion
• 4x Nike Cross Nationals participant
Zoey Nilsson | Fr.
Draper, Utah • Lone Peak HS
• 4x UHSAA 6A State Champion in cross country
• 2023 UHSAA 6A State Track & Field Champion
• 4x Nike Cross Nationals participant
Maebh Richardson | Sr.
Kilkenny, Ireland • Loreto Secondary School • Portland
• 2x First-Team All-WCC (XC)
• 2023 WCC Cross Country Champion
• 2023 European U20 Cross Country Championships participant (IRE)
Piper Simpson | Fr.
Sydney, Australia • St. Catherine's School
• 2026 Australian Athletics Junior Championships qualifier
• 2026 Australian Championships participant
• 2025 NSW U18 Junior Championships medalist in the 1500m
PLOURDE READIES FOR COPENHAGEN
Former Utah All-American Simone Plourde will once again don the Red & White and represent Team Canada later this month at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Canadian will compete in the 5km race on Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 6:10am (MDT). She recently competed for Team Canada at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360 app.
UVU INVITATIONAL
HOST: Utah Valley
WHEN: Friday, Sept. 4
TIME: 10 a.m. (MDT)
LOCATION: Orem, UT
VENUE: Scera Park
UTAH PARTICIPANTS: Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce, Josie Fale, Brielle Nilsson, Zoey Nilsson, Bri Rinn, Mackenzie Rogers, Piper Simpson
FROM THE LINE
Utah will send eight runners to compete at the UVU Invitational this week. Of the eight, Lauren Ayers, Allie Bruce, Josie Fale and Bri Rinn have all competed in this meet previously. Mackenzie Rogers will make her cross country debut as a Ute while the trio of freshmen in Brielle Nilsson, Zoey Nilsson and Piper Simpson will make their collegiate debuts.
Fale is Utah's top finisher among the four that have raced on this 3-mile course, placing seventh-overall with a time of 17:34.86 last year. However, Rinn's time of 17:20.9 back in 2024 is tops between the four. Ayers finished in 17:42.81 last season for 11th with Bruce placing 15th-overall in 18:03.18.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Women of Utah check in at No. 20 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings after returning all five of their scorers from last year's NCAA Championships squad that finished 17th-overall. This marks the fifth-consecutive season Utah has been ranked in the preseason poll and seventh time overall. The Utes also returned their sixth finisher from the championships with the addition of a quartet of veterans to their roster in Bri Rinn (returner), Mackenzie Rogers (redshirt), Tayla Gunton (grad transfer) and Maebh Richardson (transfer).
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Utah's team this season will consist of six fresh faces, two grad transfers in Tayla Gunton and Maebh Richardson and four freshmen in Riley Innes, Brielle Nilsson, Zoey Nilsson and Piper Simpson.
Tayla Gunton | Gr.
Cairns, Australia • St. Andrew's Catholic • Iona
• 2025 ECAC Cross Country Champion
• 4x MAAC Champion (Indoor/Outdoor Track) in 2026
• 2023 MAAC Most Outstanding Runner (XC)
Riley Innes | Fr.
Newmarket, Ontario, Canada • Sir William Mulock Secondary School
• 2026 U20 World Cross Country Championships qualifier (CAN)
• 2024 Canadian U20 Champion (3000m)
• 2x OFSAA Champion in 2023 and 2024
Brielle Nilsson | Fr.
Draper, Utah • Lone Peak HS
• 4x UHSAA 6A State Champion in cross country
• 2023 UHSAA 6A State Track & Field Champion
• 4x Nike Cross Nationals participant
Zoey Nilsson | Fr.
Draper, Utah • Lone Peak HS
• 4x UHSAA 6A State Champion in cross country
• 2023 UHSAA 6A State Track & Field Champion
• 4x Nike Cross Nationals participant
Maebh Richardson | Sr.
Kilkenny, Ireland • Loreto Secondary School • Portland
• 2x First-Team All-WCC (XC)
• 2023 WCC Cross Country Champion
• 2023 European U20 Cross Country Championships participant (IRE)
Piper Simpson | Fr.
Sydney, Australia • St. Catherine's School
• 2026 Australian Athletics Junior Championships qualifier
• 2026 Australian Championships participant
• 2025 NSW U18 Junior Championships medalist in the 1500m
PLOURDE READIES FOR COPENHAGEN
Former Utah All-American Simone Plourde will once again don the Red & White and represent Team Canada later this month at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Canadian will compete in the 5km race on Saturday, Sept. 19, starting at 6:10am (MDT). She recently competed for Team Canada at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com, on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram or stay connected with Utah360 app.
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