OXFORD, Ala. – The University of Tennessee Southern women's cross country team opened the 2026 season Friday with a strong performance at the JSU Foothills Invitational, competing against one of the toughest fields on its schedule and finishing as the second-highest NAIA program in the event.
The Firehawks recorded an eighth-place team finish with 243 points while competing against a field featuring NCAA Division I and Division II programs including Auburn, Jacksonville State, UAB, Samford, West Florida, and Troy.
Among NAIA programs, only SCAD finished ahead of UT Southern, as the Firehawks placed ahead of conference foes Dalton State and Blue Mountain Christian, along with numerous other collegiate teams.
Junior Vera Maisaje paced UT Southern with a 27th-place finish in 19:33.6, giving the Firehawks an individual top-30 performance against a field dominated by NCAA competition.
Senior Alyssa Andrea followed in 42nd place with a time of 20:13.9, while senior Claire Deaton finished 52nd overall in 20:36.4.
Freshman Uxue Armas made an impressive collegiate debut, placing 60th in 21:04.3. Senior Amelia Worsley rounded out the Firehawks' scoring lineup in 62nd place with a time of 21:06.8.
Jessica Needs narrowly missed the scoring five, crossing the finish line in 67th place at 21:13.1.
Facing several NCAA programs that regularly compete at the Division I level, UT Southern's performance provides an encouraging start to a season in which the Firehawks were selected second in the SSAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll.
UT Southern Top Finishers
The Firehawks return to action on Sept. 18 at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Alabama.
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