KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee Southern women's cross country team delivered a record-breaking performance at the Appalachian Challenge hosted in Knoxville, Tenn., placing eighth overall in a highly competitive 18-team field.
The Firehawks posted a team time of 1:37:15, averaging 19:27 per runner, which shattered the program's previous best team average for a meet. Additionally, the top three UT Southern finishers broke the program's individual 5K record, previously held by freshman Linah Ewoi's 19:07 from the JSU Foothills Invite.
Leading the charge for UT Southern was Emma Vizina, finishing 33rd overall in 18:53.3 to establish a new program record. She was closely followed by Alyssa Andrea (38th, 19:02.1) and Ewoi (39th, 19:05.0), both also under the previous school mark. Claire Deaton placed 51st (19:25.7), and Lou-Anne Bernard rounded out the scoring in 108th (20:50.0).
Non-scoring competitors Amelia Worsley (21:16.4), Lauren Hallmark (21:23.2), Neidyn Lopez-Hernandez (21:27.4), and Addi Moore (21:36.7) all contributed to the team's depth and continued improvement.
Team Results
| Place |
Team |
Total Time |
Avg. Time |
Score |
Scoring Runners |
| 1 |
Milligan |
1:28:07 |
17:37 |
31 |
1–4–6–8–12 |
| 2 |
Cumberlands |
1:31:22 |
18:16 |
78 |
3–14–16–22–23 |
| 3 |
SCAD Savannah |
1:33:08 |
18:37 |
126 |
5–10–20–32–59 |
| 4 |
Rio Grande |
1:33:55 |
18:47 |
131 |
7–18–21–41–44 |
| 5 |
Montreat |
1:34:44 |
18:56 |
173 |
2–19–25–61–66 |
| 6 |
St. Francis (Ind.) |
1:35:46 |
19:09 |
178 |
15–28–40–46–49 |
| 7 |
Southeastern U. |
1:36:42 |
19:20 |
196 |
29–37–38–42–50 |
| 8 |
UT Southern |
1:37:15 |
19:27 |
205 |
27–30–31–39–78 |
| 9 |
Freed-Hardeman |
1:38:57 |
19:47 |
250 |
9–11–47–90–93 |
| 10 |
Reinhardt |
1:39:01 |
19:48 |
280 |
24–55–58–71–72 |
| 11 |
Brenau |
1:40:36 |
20:07 |
312 |
34–62–65–70–81 |
| 12 |
Georgetown (Ky.) |
1:41:23 |
20:16 |
318 |
43–45–67–79–84 |
| 13 |
Dalton State |
1:42:17 |
20:27 |
348 |
35–73–75–82–83 |
| 14 |
St. Thomas (Fla.) |
1:44:47 |
20:57 |
360 |
33–54–77–97–99 |
| 15 |
Midway |
1:50:39 |
22:07 |
424 |
63–69–88–91–113 |
| 16 |
Union (Ky.) |
2:01:06 |
24:13 |
513 |
92–95–104–106–116 |
| 17 |
Spartanburg Methodist |
2:05:52 |
25:10 |
538 |
98–105–108–112–115 |
| 18 |
Johnson University Tenn. |
2:05:16 |
25:03 |
538 |
101–102–110–111–114 |
The Firehawks' collective effort not only marked a new team benchmark for speed and depth but also showcased the program's momentum heading into the postseason.
UT Southern will next compete at the SSAC Cross Country Championship on November 7, hosted at Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Oakville, Alabama.
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