Beth Burgess picked up right where she left off last year and Graham Massot made quite a debut. The two runners won individual titles to lead the Covenant cross country teams to Mountaintop Invitational wins on Friday evening on Lookout Mountain.
The wins for both programs marks the third consecutive year that the teams have won the season opening event hosted by the Covenant.
Burgess blasted her previous best mark in the two-mile race by finishing in a time of 13:06.23, 22 seconds faster than the runner-up, to lead the women's team.
Overall, the women had seven finishers in the top 10.
Ruthie Cargill also set a personal record in the two-mile with her time of 13:50.86 as she finished third. Freshman Margaret Fitch had an outstanding debut placing fourth in a time of 13:54.89. Esther Anderson was fifth at 14:02.28, while freshman Abby Irwin was sixth at 14:19.91.
Anna Hankal (14:21.67) placed seventh and Grace Bodron (14:35.20) was 10th. Freshman Jordan Francis was 12th with her time of 14:43.26.
Covenant narrowly missed a perfect score as they accumulated 17 points by taking four of the top five spots. Maryville's Emily Guillaume finished second with a time of 13:28.63. Maryville, Truett-McConnell and Reinhardt rounded out the field.
In the men's 5k it was a neck-and-neck race between Covenant's Massot and Maryville runner, and defending USA South Individual champion, Sean Hagstrom. Coming into the final lap around the Shadowlands Field, Hagstrom led Massot but the Covenant sophomore transfer from Wheaton (Ill.) caught Hagstrom and passed him finishing in a time of 17:42.99.
Freshman Eliot Kaufmann placed third overall with his 5k time of 17:52.35, while Stephen Dillon was seventh with a time of 18:55.91. Justin Jantomaso was the fourth Covenant finisher, 14th overall, at 19:24.94 and Jack Williams rounded out the Scots' top five with a 16th place finish at 19:45.50.
Eliot Gardner (19:52.32) and John Weaks (19:57.15) finished 18th and 19th, respectively.
Covenant earned 41 points which eked out Reinhardt's 45 for the team victory. Truett-McConnell and Maryville finished third and fourth.
Both teams will be back in action next Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Sewanee Invitational. The women's meet begins at 10 a.m., while the men go at 11 a.m.
Be sure to follow the Scots all season long on athletics.covenant.edu and on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date scores, news and other information.
Women's Results
1st - Beth Burgess - 13:06.23
3rd - Ruthie Cargill - 13:50.86
4th - Margaret Fitch - 13:54.89
5th - Esther Anderson - 14:02.28
6th - Abby Irwin - 14:19.91
7th - Anna Hankal - 14:21.67
10th - Grace Bodron - 14:35.20
12th - Jordan Francis - 14:43.26
27th - Julia Price - 16:19.50
28th - Sarah Jo Griffith - 16:29.73
Men's Results
1st - Graham Massot - 17:42.99
3rd - Eliot Kaufmann - 17:52.35
7th - Stephen Dillon - 18:55.91
14th - Justin Jantomaso - 19:24.94
16th - Jack Williams - 19:45.50
18th - Eliot Gardner - 19:52.32
19th - John Weaks - 19:57.15
22nd - Phil Moore - 20:19.02
28th - Caleb Spykstra - 21:21.13
30th - Zach Atchison - 21:47.32
32nd - Charles Taylor - 22:13.11