OAKVILLE, Ala. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's cross country team continued its strong 2026 season Saturday at the Firehawk Invitational, highlighted by an individual championship and program-record performance from junior Vera Maisaje at Oakville Indian Mounds Park.

Competing in a small but highly competitive field, the Firehawks finished second in the team standings with 33 points, narrowly behind William Carey, which scored 29 points. Dalton State placed third with 74 points.

Maisaje delivered the race's standout performance, capturing the individual title in a new UT Southern 6K program-record time of 22:32.1. The Lagos, Nigeria native averaged 6:02.6 per mile while edging William Carey's Kristina Stojanovic by nearly five seconds to claim the championship.

The victory continues a remarkable stretch for Maisaje, who recently earned SSAC Runner of the Week honors after leading the Firehawks at the Southern Showcase. Her latest performance adds another record to an already historic season and gives UT Southern an individual champion on its home course.

Senior Alyssa Andrea also turned in an outstanding race, placing fourth overall in 23:03.5 while averaging 6:11.0 per mile. Andrea's finish gave the Firehawks two runners among the top four competitors.

Freshman Uxue Armas continued her impressive debut campaign with an eighth-place finish in 23:55.9, while senior Claire Deaton crossed the line ninth in 23:59.2.

Junior Lou-Anne Bernard finished 11th overall in 24:23.9, and freshman Jessica Needs followed closely behind in 13th with a time of 24:34.7.

Senior Amelia Worsley added a 14th-place finish in 24:41.8, while freshman Courtney Dover recorded a time of 25:23.4.

Junior Addi Moore finished in 25:42.7, followed by freshman Lauren Carpenter in 25:52.4. Lauren Hallmark rounded out the Firehawk lineup with a time of 26:10.5, while freshman Bodey Merrill and freshman Joci Wilkins also completed the course.

Ideal racing conditions helped produce fast times across the field, and the Firehawks responded with one of their strongest collective performances of the season. Just one week after earning a historic first-ever victory over William Carey at the Southern Showcase, UT Southern once again demonstrated the depth that has made the program one of the conference's top contenders.

While the Firehawks competed well on their home course, the primary focus remains preparing for next week's CBU Invitational, where UT Southern will face another elite field that includes NCAA Division I opponents Arkansas State and UT Martin.

With a program record, individual title, and another strong team showing in hand, the Firehawks head into the next phase of the season carrying significant momentum.

UT Southern Results

• Vera Maisaje – 1st – 22:32.1 (Program Record)
• Alyssa Andrea – 4th – 23:03.5
• Uxue Armas – 8th – 23:55.9
• Claire Deaton – 9th – 23:59.2
• Lou-Anne Bernard – 11th – 24:23.9
• Jessica Needs – 13th – 24:34.7
• Amelia Worsley – 14th – 24:41.8
• Courtney Dover – 19th – 25:23.4
• Addi Moore – 20th – 25:42.7
• Lauren Carpenter – 21st – 25:52.4
• Lauren Hallmark – 24th – 26:10.5
• Bodey Merrill – 26th – 27:23.2
• Joci Wilkins – 28th – 28:14.0

UT Southern returns to action next weekend at the CBU Invitational.

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