Results
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The Embry-Riddle women's cross country team was the top non-D1 team at the Queen City Invitational on Friday evening, putting five runners in the top-60 overall. The Eagles finished fourth overall behind Duke, Liberty and Elon, beating Florida Southern and host Queens (N.C.) among others in their first race outside the state of Florida since last year's NCAA II National Championship meet.
Sarah Edens, fresh off the fastest time in her career at last week's Mountain Dew Invitational, posted the second-best time in her career with a 17:49, finishing ninth overall and the top non-D1 time in the 262 runner field. Edens' time is the sixth-fastest in program history and the eighth under-18 5K mark for the Eagles all-time.
Following Edens,
Kristen Metcalfe ran a 17:59 for 13th overall and second on the Blue and Gold squad. Just seconds after Edens ran the eighth under-18 time in program history, Metcalfe followed with the ninth such time.
Mikaela Hakamaa finished third for the Eagles in 18:48, 48th overall, while
Kara Funke (18:55 - 56th) and
Rachel Jones (18:57 - 59th) rounded out the Eagle scorers. For Jones, she posted the best time of her freshman campaign to date, bettering her previous best by more than 30 seconds.
Josie Gray (19:05 - 68th) and
Ukeyvia Beckwith (19:17 - 77th) also set personal records on Friday, and
Alex Orr (19:38 - 92nd),Â
Maggie Allen (20:01 - 109th) and
Kaitlyn Buck (20:34 - 131st)Â all finished in the top half of competitors.
Sara Towers (21:18 - 160th) and
Megan Fletcher (21:25 - 166th) also competed for Embry-Riddle.
The Eagles will have two weeks to prepare for the FSU Invitational on Friday, Oct. 12 in Tallahassee.
