MEMPHIS – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Cross Country ran its first race of the 2023 season Saturday under the lights at the City Auto Memphis Twilight Classic.
UAFS finished with a team score of 454 points to finish 16th of 21 teams in the women's race and scored 483 points to place 16th of 20 teams in the men's event.
"Memphis was a great start to our season," Head Coach Mason Rhodes said. "I have a great idea on where our fitness is after our summer training."
Zoe Nesbitt led the charge for the women's team, placing 99th with a 5k time of 20:47.24. Hailey Malik followed close behind in 104th in 21:04.22. Freshmen Madison Thurston and Cecilia Perez were next to cross the line for the Lions in 117th and 123rd, respectively. Thurston finished in 21:43.53 and Perez in 22:14.08.
Saylor Vera rounded out the top five for the Lions in 125th in a time of 22:21.41.
Corey Maxwell paced the Lion men in the four-mile event with a time of 22:11.92 to place 81st. Isaac Teague was next in 89th in 22:17.46. Three Lions crossed in consecutive order in Parker Brown, Luke Bledsoe and Stihl Snyder for 125th through 127th. All three were with five seconds of each other with Brown finishing in 23:14.62.
"The next two weeks we will be putting in quality workouts and mileage as we get prepared for MSSU," Rhodes added. "I expect to see a big jump in fitness over the next month as we get into the middle of our competition season. Attitudes are really positive and both teams are excited for what is to come this fall."
Next up for the Lions is the Missouri Southern Stampede September 15 in Joplin, Missouri.
