University Southern California Trojans
Saturday, October 17
Riverside, Calif.
8:40 a.m.
USC
vs
Highlander Invitational
USC Cross Country’s Paige Unger Leads Way at Highlander Invitational
October 17, 2026 | Women's Cross Country
Four Trojans earn career-best results in the 6k
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The USC cross country team returned to the Ag Ops Course at UC Riverside for the Highlander Invitational women's 6k on Saturday, placing 19th as a team.
Paige Unger led the charge for the Trojans, recording a personal-best in the 6k. The senior finished 80th overall and with a time of 21:50.2, improving on her time last season at the Highlander Invitational.
Ivanka Malysheva matched Unger with a personal-best of her own on Saturday, eclipsing her previous career marks less than two weeks ago at The Master's University Invitational. Malysheva finished 116th overall and with a time of 22:18.3.
Monique Stewart, who made her USC cross country debut on Saturday, ran a time of 22:30.3 and finished 128th overall.
Emilia Gonzalez ran a personal-best of 22:53.2 in the 6k on Saturday, finishing 158th overall. The freshman improved on her previous career-best at The Master's University Invitational. Alexandra Sparno rounded out the Trojans' Saturday race day on Saturday, running a 23:27.7 — a career-best for the freshman.
The Trojans will be back in action at the Big Ten Championships on Friday, Oct. 30. The women's 6k is set for 11:45 a.m. in Madison, Wisconsin.
Paige Unger led the charge for the Trojans, recording a personal-best in the 6k. The senior finished 80th overall and with a time of 21:50.2, improving on her time last season at the Highlander Invitational.
Ivanka Malysheva matched Unger with a personal-best of her own on Saturday, eclipsing her previous career marks less than two weeks ago at The Master's University Invitational. Malysheva finished 116th overall and with a time of 22:18.3.
Monique Stewart, who made her USC cross country debut on Saturday, ran a time of 22:30.3 and finished 128th overall.
Emilia Gonzalez ran a personal-best of 22:53.2 in the 6k on Saturday, finishing 158th overall. The freshman improved on her previous career-best at The Master's University Invitational. Alexandra Sparno rounded out the Trojans' Saturday race day on Saturday, running a 23:27.7 — a career-best for the freshman.
The Trojans will be back in action at the Big Ten Championships on Friday, Oct. 30. The women's 6k is set for 11:45 a.m. in Madison, Wisconsin.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Monday, September 12
