Tyrone, Pa. – The Duquesne University men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2026 season with team victories at the Father Bede Invitational, hosted by Saint Francis on Saturday at B&D Acres. The Dukes also swept the individual titles, with sophomore Sylvia Kashak winning the women's race and junior Ben Shields taking the men's crown.

The men's team dominated the field, placing 11 runners among the top 13 finishers. Shields led the way, crossing the finish line in 19:22.6 to win the 6k race by nearly four seconds over the runner-up from host Saint Francis and claim his first career meet victory in his junior-season debut. First-year runners Lucas Bleakney (19:32.9) and Evan Yurasko (19:36.2) premiered in third and fourth, respectively, while junior Sam Freedman (19:41.1) and first-year Reese Cubbison (19:43.0) rounded out the Dukes' scoring five in sixth and seventh.

Duquesne finished with 21 points to claim the team title, and the Dukes filled every spot from sixth through 13th.

Kashak opened her sophomore campaign with the first cross country meet victory of her career, finishing the 4k course in 14:37.6 — almost five seconds ahead of the runner-up. The Dukes followed by placing runners in every position from seventh through 14th, along with the 16th- and 17th-place finishers.

First-year runner Hailey Caldwell made her Duquesne debut as the team's second finisher, placing seventh overall in 15:46.1. Sophomore Lauren Ciuca followed in eighth at 15:48.6, with junior Grace Senneway (15:52.6) and sophomore Kendall Lucas (15:57.0) completing the scoring five in ninth and 10th.

The Dukes totaled 35 points to claim the women's team title.

UP NEXT
Duquesne will make the short trek to Youthtowne Fields in Clinton, Pa. next Friday for the RMU Colonial Invitational. The men are scheduled to kick off the racing at 8:30 am.

FULL DUQUESNE RESULTS
Men's (6k)
Team: 1st (of 5)
1. Ben Shields (Jr) — 19:22.6
3. Lucas Bleakney (Fr) — 19:32.9 (first career race)
4. Evan Yurasko (Fr) — 19:36.2 (first career race)
6. Sam Freedman (Jr) — 19:41.1
7. Reese Cubbison (Fr) — 19:43.0 (first career race)
8. Anthony Ciecierski (Jr) — 19:49.3 (PR)
9. Liam Kirkpatrick (So) — 19:55.3
10. Mason Stewart (Sr) — 20:06.4
11. Jacob Bonnar (Jr) — 20:08.8
12. Jack Pritchard (So) — 20:13.1
13. Brendan Burns (So) — 20:19.5 (PR)
17. Maxwell Hamilton (Sr) — 21:09.0 (PR)
20. Isaak Nizami (So) — 21:25.1
21. Jude Olsen (Fr) — 21:36.1 (first career race)
24. Kyle Kochanski (So) — 21:54.5
38. Cleveland Wall (So) — 24:20.3

Women's (4k)
Team: 1st (of 5)
1. Sylvia Kashak (So) — 14:37.6 (PR)
7. Hailey Caldwell (Fr) — 15:46.1 (first career race)
8. Lauren Ciuca (So) — 15:48.6 
9. Grace Senneway (Jr) — 15:52.6 (PR)
10. Kendall Lucas (So) — 15:57.0
11. Elizabeth Pizon (So) — 15:58.9 (first career 4k)
12. Ava Brewster (Jr) — 16:01.7
13. Morgan Roemer (So) — 16:05.6
14. Cydney Blahovec (Sr) — 16:12.4
16. Elise Ashcroft (Fr) — 16:17.9 (first career race)
17. Emma Andreen (Sr) — 16:30.2
22. Mia Gartley (Fr) — 16:44.6 (first career race)
27. Lexi Fluharty (So) — 17:05.7
35. Maya Currie (Fr) — 17:35.3 (first career race)
46. Lily Colombo (Jr) — 18:39.7

FOLLOW THE DUKES
Follow Duquesne Cross Country all season online at GoDuquesne.com, as well as on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook (@DuqXCTF).