DePaul Cross Country Shines at National Catholic Championships

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – DePaul University‘s cross country teams delivered strong performances at the 46th Annual National Catholic Championships, held on Friday, September 19, 2025, at the Burke Golf Course.

The men’s 8k race began at 2:30 p.m. CT, followed by the women’s 5k at 3:15 p.m. CT. The Blue Demons are coming off a successful opening meet where they swept both the men’s and women’s races at the Huskie Opener hosted by Northern Illinois.

In the men’s race, DePaul’s top finisher was Mohamed, who placed 14th with a personal best time of 24:46.4. Closely behind him was another competitor who secured 21st place, clocking in at 25:16.8, with a personal record. The team finished fifth in last year’s National Catholic Championships and was eager to improve this year.

The women’s team also excelled, grabbing third place in the 5k race. Tessa claimed 14th place with a time of 17:38.0, an impressive personal best. Other notable performances came from her teammates, with all five finishers recording their personal bests as well.

“Our top four ran really well,” said head coach Geoff Wayton. “It’s a great step in the right direction. We’ll be back on this same course in a few weeks, and I’m excited for the women to have another chance to run even faster.”

A total of 12 Catholic institutions participated in the event, including Bellarmine, Canisius, and Loyola Chicago. The competition showed promising results for DePaul as both teams continue to build momentum for the season.

The Blue Demons will return to action on October 3 for the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invite.