Young Harris, Ga. – The University of North Georgia (UNG) women's cross country team kicked off the 2026 campaign with a first-place finish, coming out on top in the Young Harris Cross Country Opener on Friday evening. 

With a team total time of 1:50:45, the Nighthawks secured their 25th team title in program history. After starting the 2025 season victorious in the Bruins XC Night Classic, UNG has come in first in each of its last two season openers. 

Four Nighthawks finished within the top 10 individually, highlighted by a first-place finish by a newcomer in Allie Wardle. In her first race with the Nighthawks, the graduate student from Snellville, Ga. posted a time of 20:24.5 to finish above the pack.  

Aubrey Dishman was not far behind Wardle with a time of 21:47.9, coming in third for a podium finish. 

For the second-consecutive season, Tessie Braman opened the year with an impressive sixth-place finish with a time of 22:19.0. Harleigh Smith was the final Nighthawk to finish inside the top 10 at 22:38.8. 

A pair of Nighthawks in Alex Allen and Abby Tillman started their collegiate cross country careers on a high note. Allen, a freshman from Woodstock, Ga. ran a 12th place time of 23:35.6 in her first race with the Nighthawks. Tillman, a Snellville, Ga. native, was right on Allen's heels at 23:36.4, finishing 13th. 

Senior transfer Emily Baars rounded out the standout night from UNG, finishing 20th with a time of 26:18.3. 

The Nighthawks will look to carry this momentum into their home race at the 14th Annual UNG XC Invitational on Friday, Sept. 18. North Georgia will get to race in front of the Nighthawk faithful at 6:30 p.m. at the UNG Cross Country Course at UNG's Gainesville campus.