JOPLIN, Mo. – Freshman Rachel Malik set a new school record in the 5k as she paced University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women's Cross Country at the Missouri Southern Stampede Saturday.
Malik ran a 5k time of 18:05.51 to place in 35th, smashing the record set by Kandace Young at the same event a year ago by over 20 seconds. Twin sister Hailey Malik was the second Lion to finish in 68th in a time of 18:48.34.
"I am extremely proud with our performance today," Head Coach Mason Rhodes said. "We showed up and left everything we had on the course. We competed from start to finish and saw many run season and lifetime best races. Looking forward we have two weeks to get back to work before we head to Chile Pepper in Fayetteville for our mid-season check in."
Freshmen leading the way for UAFS continued as Zoe Nesbitt was third to cross the line in 152nd in 20:02.67. Camille Lear was next for the Lions in 163rd in 20:13.60.
Joyce Ferguson (20:29.22), Quincy Efurd (20:32.90) and Shaddy Gonzalez (20:34.14) rounded out the scoring for the Lions in 176th, 178th and 180th, respectively.
Both Maliks, Lear, Gonzalez and Jennifer Martinez were among those that set personal bests Saturday. The group also set the fastest team average for a 5k.
The Lions finished 17th as a team with 486 points.
UAFS will next run in the Chile Pepper Festival September 30 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
