After three weeks off from competing, the Covenant cross country teams returned to the course and fared well at the Wingfoot XC Classic, hosted by the Atlanta Track Club, in Cartersville, Ga., on Friday evening.
Covenant placed fifth overall in the men's event, featuring 15 teams, while the women were ninth in a 14-team field.
On the men's side, the Scots tallied 124 points led by a 19th place finish overall by Brendan Yeager as he came in with a time of 26:30.0 in the 8k event.
Yeager's time is the eighth-fastest 8k in program history and marked his first collegiate race at the distance.
Micaiah Allison, Matt Seitz, and Leif Le Mahieu all finished up consecutively to help Covenant move up the standings. Allison placed 35th with a time of 27:25.8, Seitz was 36th in the meet at 27:26.8, while Le Mahieu ran the course in a personal-record time of 27:29.8 to place 37th. Ian Sneller also established a career-best with a time of 27:59.6 to finish in 52nd overall.
The Scots were the top Division III finisher in the meet and placed just behind Division II member Tusculum (108 points). Division I member South Alabama was the meet champion, while Samford's Dillon Dean was the individual winner.
Five of the top seven finishers for the Scots on the women's side set personal bests in the 5k meet. S.K. Lipperd paced the Scots with her top personal time of 19:57.0, which was good for 37th overall. Maggie Henry also set a personal record with a time of 20:42.2 and a 49th place finish. Ashleigh Baker came in with a personal record time of 22:10.6, while Nichole Rittgers also set a career-best with her mark of 22:38.9.
Brooke McDonald rounded out the top five Covenant runners with a time of 23:01.0. Sydney Fitch was the fifth Covenant runner to set a personal record among the top seven Scots to finish as Fitch completed the course in 23:10.6.
Covenant finished ninth, out of 14, in the meet that was won by South Alabama. Carolien Millenaar of South Alabama won the women's race with a time of 17:36.3.
Men's results (top 7 finishers)
19th - Brendan Yeager - 26:30.0
35th - Micaiah Allison - 27:25.8
36th - Matt Seitz - 27:26.8
37th - Leif Le Mahieu - 27:29.8 (PR)
52nd - Ian Sneller - 27:59.6 (PR)
54th - Ben Mellott - 28:05.1
79th - Jonathan George - 28:52.3
Women's results (top 7 finishers)
37th - S.K. Lipperd - 19:57.0 (PR)
49th - Maggie Henry - 20:42.2 (PR)
75th - Ashleigh Baker - 22:10.6 (PR)
79th - Nichole Rittgers - 22:38.9 (PR)
83rd - Brooke McDonald - 23:01.0
87th - Sydney Fitch - 23:10.6 (PR)
95th - Caroline Pepper - 23:57.9
Covenant will travel to compete in the Maryville Invitational on Friday, Sept. 27 in Maryville, Tenn.