The Lee University cross country teams opened their 2022 seasons Friday morning at the North Alabama Showcase held at John Hunt Park.
The 11th-ranked Flames set a school record with a total 8K time of 2:01:28.35. The previous standard was set on the same course last October at the UAH Chargers XC Invite.
Alabama secured the team win with 74 points. Kentucky was second (94), Georgia Tech placed third (109) and the Flames tallied 141 points for fourth. Memphis amassed 188 points to complete the top five teamas.
Silas Eckenroad was Lee’s top finisher.
The graduate student stopped the clock at 24:04.50 to claim 14th out of 360 finishers. Matthew Fowler was the second Lee runner across the finish line. Fowler was 21st overall with a time of 24:10.96.
Hayden Judge, Aaron Himes and Will Stone were Lee’s other scorers. Judge was 27th (24:16.06), Himes placed 34th (24:24.88) and Stone finished 45th (24:31.95). Ezekiel Harless was right behind in 46th position after completing the circuit at 24:33.06. Evan Moore rounded out the top seven with a time of 24:35.81j (51st).
Adan Rodriguez was 59th at 24:41.70. Jon Fielding Stogner (25:04.46) and Roberto Fajardo (25:09.06) finished 91st and 99th, respectively. Stephen Clark (114th) posted a time of 25:19.94, while Jacob Hatcher’s time of 25:24.90 put him in 121st. Caleb Guthery was 201st with a time of 26:33.79.
The Lady Flames, ranked No. 10 in NCAA Division II, placed three runners in the top 40 on their way to recording 204 points and a seventh-place finish. Alabama was the top team with 73 points, while Kentucky was right behind with 78. Georgia Tech (110), Auburn (125) and Kennesaw State (189) rounded out the top five teams. Southern Miss was just ahead of Lee in sixth with 196 points.
Aria Hawkins was the first Lady Flame across the finish line of the 5K race. The sophomore was 30th out of 384 finishers with a time of 17:34.69. Danielle Horter was 35th (17:42.55) and Liza Kellerman finished 38th (17:48.68).
Lee’s final two scorers were Lily Hare and Olivia McLain. Hare stopped the clock at 17:54.27 for 49th and McLain was 54th with a time of 17:59.69. Megan Adams (18:01.87) and Ashlyn Iliff (18:33.78) were the sixth and seventh Lee runners to complete the course.
Phoebe Moran was 149th overall at 18:53.03. Katie Krueger placed 161st (18:57.46), Elizabeth Heckman was 165th (18:58.86) and Elizabeth Beckham finished at 19:03.99 (172nd). Grace Adams’ time of 19:48.05 put her in 236th place.
The Flames and Lady Flames will be in action again on October 1 in the 21st Annual Live in Lou Cross Country Classic at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky.