RESULTS

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Lee University women's cross country team opened its 2026 season with a ninth place finish out of 31 teams in the Southern Showcase Invite Friday morning at the John Hunt Cross Country Course. The Flames were the only non-DI team in the top 20 of the 5K race.

The University of Alabama claimed five of the top 10 finishers as the Crimson Tide recorded the team win with 28 points. Clemson was second with 69 points, Auburn finished third (99) and Mercer placed fourth (151).

Lee accumulated 266 points to finish ninth. GSC foes Mississippi Christian, Union and Christian Brothers joined the Flames in the race. The Choctaws placed 21^st (619) with Union in 24^th (713) and CBU's 726 points putting them in 26^th.

Alabama's Caren Kiplagat was the individual winner with a time of 15:41.36. Ava Sparks was the first Lee runner across the finish line at 17:29.92 to place 28^th overall. Capucine Cureau stopped the clock at 17:45.99 for 46^th.

Sadie Wielfaert, Sofia Fregona and Michela Papalia rounded out the Lee scorers. Wielfaert placed 57^th with a time of 17:58.37. Fregona (18:04.55) was 65^th and Papalia finished 77^th (18:12.88).

Lucy Guthrie and Katie Beam were Lee's spacers with Guthrie finishing 87^th (18:18.73) and Beam settling into 101^st (18:27.35). Lucy Hearn crossed the line at 18:29.98 for 104^th position.

Tallulah Worley placed 135^th (18:46.47) and Dana Espinoza was 141^st (18:49.11). Abi Moore (19:22.20) and Samantha Hardison (19:36.67) were 197^th and 208^th, respectively. Sawyer  Simmons and Jada Goeson were the final two Lee runners to finish the race. Simmons was 220^th (19:42.71) and Goeson (19:49.24) was 232^nd out of 309 runners.

The Lee women are scheduled to return to action on October 3 in the 5K Gold Race of the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic that will be held at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky.