BIRMINGHAM, 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 last week. The Flames were the only non-DI team in the top 20 of the 5K race. Ava Sparks was the top finisher for Lee and was named the Gulf South Conference runner of the week.

Sparks was the first Lee runner across the finish line at 17:29.92 to place 28^th overall.