ATLANTA, Ga. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's cross country team finished in fifth place at the Georgia Tech XC Invitational in Atlanta, Ga. Friday morning.

The Nighthawks raced to 170 points as host Georgia Tech won the event with 18 points. Mercer followed in second with 55 points ahead of Chattanooga (76 points) and Carson-Newman (146 points).

Among a field of multiple NCAA Division I schools, UNG was the second-highest finishing DII school behind the Eagles of Carson-Newman. The Nighthawks also beat out a number of DI schools including Georgia State and Wofford. 

For the third time this year, freshman runner Ahna Hicks led the way for UNG. The rookie finished in 34th place with a 23:00.15 time in the first 6k of her career.

Sophomore Maggie Welp and freshman Jordan Starling finished in 41st and 42nd place respectively. Welp crossed the finish line at 23:14.77 while Starling was just a few steps behind her, finishing with a 23:22.52 time.

Freshman Tessie Braman landed in the top 50 as she raced to a 23:36.69 time before finishing in 50th place.

Sophomore Aubrey Dishman was the final scoring Nighthawk in Friday's meet. The Carrollton, Ga. native finished in 62nd place with a final time of 24:11.67.

Sophomore Katelyn Harper, freshman Harleigh Smith and sophomore Teagan Lamp all finished inside the top 100 as well.

Senior Elizabeth Padilla Brun finished strong with a 28:28.30 time while freshman Emma Kay Morrow did the same at 29:16.41 in her first 6k.

UNG only has one remaining regular-season meet this year. On Saturday, Oct. 18 the Nighthawks will head to Spartanburg, S.C. for the USC Upstate Invitational. The starting gun is scheduled to sound at 9 a.m.