Bears Head to Flagstaff for Big Sky Championships - University of Northern Colorado Athletics

Friday, October 30

Flagstaff, Ariz.

University of Northern Colorado

Big Sky Championships

10/29/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

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By: Aiden Tank, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado competes for a conference title Friday at the Big Sky Championships, held at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Ariz., and hosted by Northern Arizona. The men's 8K is set for 11 a.m. MT, with the women's 5K at 12 p.m. MT.

It is the fifth meet of the fall for the Bears and their first conference championship under head coach Nick Maas.

The Women's Race
Sabina Stroia leads the Bears into the championship after going 18:56.40 at the Steve Reeder Memorial on Oct. 9, her fastest 5K of the season and a third-place finish overall. She has paced Northern Colorado in every meet this fall.

Northern Colorado should have a tight pack behind her. Claire Nowels ran 19:19.24 at the Reeder Memorial, Brooke Elfert 19:47.81 and Taylor Sheldon 19:58.66, giving the Bears four runners under 20 minutes in the same race. Jordain Stutzman, Sofia Cambridge and Braelyn Gifford follow.

The Men's Race
Tristan Persons has led the men in all four meets, with his 22:08.98 over 8K at the Reeder Memorial standing as the fastest of the season for the Bears. Dylan Wilson has been the second finisher in each of the last three meets.

Roddick Klopenstine, Cody Williams and Noah Mayoral De Anza have packed closely behind the pair, and Max Kedrowski and Tad Rabenhorst round out the group.

Results will be available following the meet.

FOLLOW THE BEARS:
For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the cross country and track and field teams on X (@UNC_BearsTFXC), and Instagram (@UNC_BearsXCTF).