FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Portland State cross country programs raced against the best in the Big Sky Conference Friday, as the Vikings toed the line at the conference championships at Buffalo Park.
 
The Vikings placed 11th in both races with the women scoring 304 points and the men 317. Both teams had a youthful group competing for them. Out of the eight Portland State women's runners, five were freshmen or sophomores, as were five of the seven men.
 
Freshman Brianna Mazilu led the Viking women with a 53rd overall finish while running the 5k in a personal-best time of 18:04.0. That's the fastest time by a Portland State women's runner at Buffalo Park, which also hosted the Big Sky Championships in 2012 and 2003. No small feat for a first-year runner competing at over 7,000 feet of elevation for the first time.
 
Sophomore Sam Sharp followed Mazilu in 18:22.0, shaving 23 seconds off her personal best and placing her 62nd overall. Sophomore Libby Fox dipped under her personal best by two-tenths of a second while finishing in 18:48.6, placing her 79th overall.
 
Redshirt freshman Stina Tagesson and sophomore Hannah Butterfield closed out the Vikings' team score at 85th and 89th overall, respectively, while finishing in 19:21.6 and 19:34.3.
 
Addison Capozzi finished 92nd in 19:48.0, while Emily Schmitke and Viola Alessandrini placed back-to-back at 95th and 96th in 20:49.3 and 22:34.6, respectively.
 
Sophomore Ari Smith led the Viking men for the fourth time out of their five meets this season. Smith finished 65th overall in the men's 8k with a time of 26:24.9. Like Mazilu, that was also the fastest time by a Viking at Buffalo Park.
 
Junior Landen Sandoval followed at 70th overall in 26:43.9, while sophomore Vince Estrada placed four spots back of him at 74th in 26:49.6.
 
Junior Aidan Brown and freshman Hayden Aldridge closed out the team score for the Vikings at 84th and 89th, respectively, in times of 27:36.4 and 28:21.5. Sophomores Benjamin Sanchez an JD Arthur also competed for the Vikings, finishing 93rd (28:41.8) and 94th (29:54.4) between them.
 
The Vikings will close out their season at the NCAA West Regional in Sacramento on Nov. 13.
 
Big Sky Championships
Buffalo Park
Flagstaff, Ariz.
Oct. 30, 2026
 
Women's Top Ten Finishers (5k):
1. Ava Mitchell, Northern Arizona, 15:35.1; 2. Hayley Burns, Northern Arizona, 15:55.0; 3. Addy Ritzenhein, Northern Arizona, 15:58.4; 4. Emma Stutzman, Northern Arizona, 15:59.7; 5. Constanze Paoli, Idaho, 16:09.8; 6. Payton Godsey, Northern Arizona, 16:14.7; 7. Makenzie McRae, Northern Arizona, 16:22.2; 8. Jordan Banta, Northern Arizona, 16:26.7; 9. Saga Hagelin, Weber State, 16:30.0; 10. Alex Terry, Idaho, 16:32.6.
 
Women's Team Scores:
1. Northern Arizona, 16 points; 2. Montana State, 77 points; 3. Idaho, 97 points; 4. Weber State, 97 points; 5. Southern Utah, 136 points; 6. Utah Tech, 156 points; 7. Idaho State, 213 points; 8. Eastern Washington, 228 points; 9. Northern Colorado, 270 points; 10. Montana, 282 points; 11. Portland State, 304 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 96):
53. Brianna Mazilu, 18:04.0; 62. Sam Sharp, 18:22.0; 79. Libby Fox, 18:48.4; 85. Stina Tagesson, 19:21.6; 89. Hannah Butterfield, 19:34.3; 92. Addison Capozzi, 19:48.0; 95. Emily Schmitke, 20:49.3; 96. Viola Alessandrini, 22:34.6.
 
Men's Top Ten Finishers (8k):
1. Erik Le Roux, Northern Arizona, 23:50.9; 2. Rheinhardt Harrison, Northern Arizona, 23:54.5; 3. Jacob Peterson, Weber State, 23:56.8; 4. Ethan Godsey, Northern Arizona, 23:59.5; 5. Quinn Newman, Montana State, 24:02.0; 6. Ford Washburn, Northern Arizona, 24:02.7; 7. Derebe Ayele, Northern Arizona, 24:13.8; 8. Clay Shively, Northern Arizona, 24:15.2; 9. Luke Mest, Montana, 24:16.2; 10. Iker Sanchez, Northern Arizona, 24:18.6.
 
Men's Team Scores:
1. Northern Arizona, 20 points; 2. Montana State, 71 points; 3. Weber State, 79 points; 4. Southern Utah, 93 points; 5. Montana, 134 points; 6. Idaho State, 183 points; 7. Idaho, 202 points; 8. Utah Tech, 208 points; 9. Eastern Washington, 254 points; 10. Northern Colorado, 315 points; 11. Portland State, 317 points.
 
Portland State Runners (out of 94):
65. Ari Smith, 26:24.9; 70. Landen Sandoval, 26:43.9; 74. Vince Estrada, 26:49.6; 84. Aidan Brown, 27:36.4; 89. Hayden Aldridge, 28:21.5; 93. Benjamin Sanchez, 28:41.9; 94. JD Arthur, 29:54.4.