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Vincennes University

Trailblazers Run Strong Under the Lights at Nike XC Town Twilight

Trailblazers Run Strong Under the Lights at Nike XC Town Twilight
Results
October 3, 2025

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Vincennes University Cross Country teams turned in another solid weekend of performances Friday night under the lights at the Nike XC Town Twilight, hosted at the prestigious LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. Facing humid and challenging conditions in a highly competitive field, both the men's and women's teams continued to build momentum midway through the fall campaign, with the women ranked No. 15 and the men No. 24 in the latest NJCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll.

Trailblazer Men Hold Steady Despite Humid Conditions

The No. 24-ranked VU men's team placed fourth overall in the 8,000-meter team standings with a score of 130 points, finishing behind Western Kentucky, Rose-Hulman, and Grace College. The Trailblazers were led by sophomore Anis Abdaoui, who clocked a 25:52.3 to place second individually in a field that included NCAA Division I and NAIA competition. Despite a humid evening that took its toll on much of the field, Abdaoui battled through to secure another podium finish. Sophomore Lane Connaway followed closely behind in 27:46.1, improving his time by six seconds from the previous meet, while sophomore Malachi Black turned in a strong 29:43.5. Freshmen Henry Dybsetter (29:53.8) and Evan Dailey (29:54.1) each broke the 30-minute barrier for the first time in their collegiate careers, rounding out VU's scoring five. Freshmen Brody Wilson (31:12.0) and Seth Weaver (32:00.6) added valuable depth for a squad that continues to trend upward with every race.

Head Coach Tyler Steigenga praised his team's resilience in the face of tough conditions. "We were kind of hoping the weather would be ideal with the race at night, but the humidity was worse than expected and made for some rough races," Steigenga said. "Anis didn't quite have the finish he wanted but still competed well. The biggest strides came from Henry and Evan — both got under 30 minutes for the first time, which is a big milestone in the 8K. There's definitely room to keep improving, but it was good experience for our younger guys."

Women Shine with Six Personal Bests

The No. 15-ranked VU women's team delivered one of its best all-around performances of the season, finishing third overall in the team standings with 88 points, narrowly behind Grace College (87) and Division I Western Kentucky (20). The Trailblazers recorded six personal bests on the 6,000-meter course, led by freshman Ikram Dorai, who raced to a third-place finish in 22:05.5—her fastest time of the season. Sophomore Sara Belgacem followed in 24:01.7, while sophomore Alexis Hale (25:05.9) and Allie Black (27:31.3) provided steady leadership and veteran presence. Freshmen Madison Seene (25:40.9), Rorri Bottum (27:25.6), Allie Knepp (28:27.0), and Josie Lade (28:30.8) each set new personal records in a race that showcased the team's depth and steady improvement.

"The women handled the conditions really well," Steigenga said. "We told them to go out conservative early and they executed perfectly. Six of eight PR'd, and the only two who didn't were just a couple seconds off their bests. That's a fantastic sign of progress. Our fifth and sixth runners — Ali and Rory — finished right by each other, which was huge for our depth. That fifth spot will be key as we move toward the postseason."

As the Trailblazers near the final stretch of the regular season, Steigenga emphasized the continued growth and focus needed in the coming weeks. "Angel Mounds is typically a quick course, and by mid-October we should finally have some real cross country weather," he said. "If we keep progressing the way we have, I'm confident we'll be ready to run fast and be where we want to be come nationals."

Looking Ahead

Vincennes now turns its attention to the Angel Mounds Invitational, scheduled for October 17 at the Angel Mounds Cross Country Course in Evansville, Indiana, as both teams continue their push toward postseason competition.

Join the Journey

As always, fans can keep up with the Vincennes University Cross Country squad all year long through a number of ways: