Lee Cross Country Opens 2019 With Pair Of Wins

  • Saturday, September 14, 2019
  • Tom Chatfield

The Lee University cross country teams opened the 2019 season with a pair of wins at the UTC Twilight Meet Friday evening at Camp Jordan.

"I was impressed with the way our athletes ran in the heat and humid conditions, but we have a few things to work on as the teams move forward," said Lee head coach Caleb Morgan.

The 14th-ranked Lady Flames placed five runners in the top 10 to tally a final score of 27 points.

Chattanooga was second with 62 points with Georgia State right behind with 63. GSC foe Montevallo was fourth (138), while West Georgia finished 10th (290).

Twelve teams competed in the 4000-meter race, including five from NCAA Division I (Chattanooga, Georgia State, Alabama A&M, Alabama State and Tennessee State). There was a total of 89 individual runners.

Chloe Flora and Celine Ritter gave Lee two runners in the top three. Flora crossed the finish line in second at 13:36.7. Ritter was third with a time of 13:42.7. Lotte Meyberg of Georgia State was the individual winner at 13:32.2.

Hannah Spooneybarger stopped the timer at 14:14.3 for fifth place. Charlee Boxall was the fourth Lady Flame, seventh overall, across the finish line with a mark of 14:25.5. Toni Moore completed the top 10 runners. Her time of 14:34.4 put her in 10th.

Olivia McLain and Emma Clark each completed the course under 15 minutes to make it seven Lady Flames that ran a sub-15 time. McLain finished 12th (14:52.7) and Clark was 15th (14:56.7).

Kendra Irvine posted a time of 15:03.2 to claim 18th and Becca Umbarger rounded out the Lee runners with a time of 15:14.6 (20th).

“The first race of the season is the best way to get the kinks out. On a high note, our newcomers (Ritter, Spooneybarger and Moore) executed their races in efficient fashion. They are big additions to the roster and fierce competitors. We have a deep roster. When we are running at our highest potential, we will be tough to beat," added Morgan.

The Flames, ranked No. 16, placed nine runners in the top 10 to tally a final score of 19 points. Emory was second with 95 points with GSC foe Montevallo right behind with 97. Chattanooga was fourth (103) and West Georgia finished fifth (120).

Ten teams competed in the 7000-meter race, including three from NCAA Division I (Chattanooga, Alabama State and Tennessee State). There was a total of 95 individual runners.

Freshman Will Stone won the individual race with a time of 21:29.9. Dawson Reed (21:55.2) and Caleb Eagleson (21:55.7) were the next two Flames to cross the line at third and fourth overall, respectively.

Thomas Kelton, Casey Guthery and Elias Sandifer were the next grouping of Lee runners to finish. Kelton was fifth (21:57.1), Guthery placed sixth (21:57.1) and Sandifer was seventh (21:57.7).

One final grouping of three Lee athletes completed the top 10. Moises Ponce stopped the clock at 22:01.9 (eighth). Ben Tabor was ninth (22:02.3) and Adan Rodriguez was 10th (22:03.0).

Ezekiel Harless completed his first collegiate race in 33rd with a time of 23:00.6. Andrew Hendry rounded out the Lee runners with a mark of 23:20.1 (41st).

“The men ran a fantastic first race of the season," said Morgan. “They began the race on the conservative side, then steadily rolled up the field, man by man. I am impressed with the poise of our men staying calm early. Our top nine guys ran excellent races, working off each other the whole way. This is huge for the team's depth going forward. This race is a great momentum builder toward our next meet of the season in Charlotte."

The Lady Flames and Flames return to action on Friday, September 27, in Charlotte, N.C., at the Queen City Invite. The women’s race is scheduled for 5 p.m. with the men following shortly after at McAlpine Creek Park.

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