GAINESVILLE, Ga. – The University of North Georgia women's cross country team sped to its first win of the season, scoring 22 points and taking home first place in the 12th Annual UNG XC Invitational at the UNG Cross Country Course in Gainesville, Ga. Friday evening.
The Nighthawks had four runners finish in the top six and held nine of the first 13 finishers. Graduate student Claire Mills took home first place in the 5K with an 18:14.2 pace. Just behind Mills in second place was senior Anna Chasteen coming in at an 18:24.2 mark. The time was a new personal best for Chasteen and the second place finish is her highest ever in a 5K.
The two veterans set the pace from the onset of the starting gun. After the first lap, Mills and Chasteen were stride-for-stride as fans and family members from all universities in attendance cheered on the battalion of runners.
As the race went on, it quickly became clear that Mills and Chasteen would finish ahead of the field. Mills' first-place finish marks the second cross country win of her career. Her first win came back in October of 2022 in the Bob Jones University Invite.
Pulling in at fourth place was freshman Maggie Welp who ran a 19:07.8 in just her second collegiate race ever, her first 5K. She's already had a pair of top-10 finishes and has twice been UNG's third top runner.
After Welp came fellow freshman Aubrey Dishman in sixth place. She finished with a time of 19:26.6 in what was also her second race and first 5K.
After the top four, a barrage of UNG runners crossed the finish line much to the delight of their teammates. Freshman Teagan Lamp marked her second top-10 finish in ninth place with a 19:35.6 time. Behind Lamp was senior Ella Stoudenmire in 10th place at 19:42.1.
Sophomores Adi Myers (11th place, 19:51.2) and Nealeigh Broadwell (12th place, 20:01.3) came in next with freshman Katie Harper following closely behind in 13th place at 20:02.6.
Senior Zoe Ordway recorded a 26th place finish and 21:26.2 in her first official 5K. Ordway joined the UNG program with the women's track & field team in the spring. This is her first cross country season.
Graduate Ashley Pope was next in 37th place, finishing the race in 22:08.7.
Sophomore Reese Vandegriff completed the race in 22:33.1, marking a pace to chase in her next 5K as this was the first of her career. Vandegriff also joined the UNG track & field team back in the spring.
Junior Elizabeth Padilla Brun capped off the race for UNG in 45th place, finishing with a 22:49.4 time.
The UNG runners dominated the field of 77 participants Friday evening, resulting in the team's first win of the season and first win since the Bob Jones XC Invitational in October of 2022.
Next, the Nighthawks will gear up for the Converse Kickoff which is scheduled for Saturday, Sep. 21 in Spartanburg, S.C. at 9:45 a.m.
