Running through rain and tough course conditions, the Covenant cross country teams excelled at the Maryville College Invitational on Saturday morning. Both teams finished first in the event and senior Ruthie Cargill was the individual champion on the women's side.
Cargill finished first among collegiate racers, second overall, with her 6k time of 25:08.58 on the damp course. The senior was able to out-run defending USA South individual champion Emily Guillaume of Maryville for the title.
The individual title is the first in Cargill's collegiate career.
Covenant had five runners finish in the top 10 for scoring on the day. Freshman Stephanie Lutz was seventh overall with her 6k time of 27:05.37, while fellow freshman Lilly Smith was not far behind as she placed eighth with a time of 27:21.06. Margaret Fitch came in 11th at 27:38.41 and Hannah Samuels rounded out the top five finishers for Covenant with an 12th place finish and a time of 27:52.63.
Covenant finished first of four teams. The Lady Scots garnered 31 points, which bested Johnson (50), Maryville (57) and Union (Ky.) (108).
On the men's side, freshman Micah Sneller led for a portion of the race before finishing fourth overall with an 8k time of 30:28.9. Reed Vaughn also cracked the top 10 with a 10th place finish after completing the course in 31:22.2.
Covenant also got solid contributions from Nathan Bierema as he placed 13th with a time of 32:18.8 and Hunter Rasmussen's 16th place finish and time of 32:49.5. Phil Moore was the fifth Covenant finisher as he came in 18th at 32:57.9.
The Scots were first of three teams. Covenant earned 29 points overall, while Maryville (42) and Johnson (62) were second and third, respectively.
Women's Results (1st of 4 - 31 points)
2nd - Ruthie Cargill - 25:08.58
7th - Stephanie Lutz - 27:05.37
8th - Lilly Smith - 27:21.06
11th - Margaret Fitch - 27:38.41
12th - Hannah Samuels - 27:52.63
21st - Juliette Henry - 29:25.82 - PR
24th - Esther Anderson - 29:43.22
35th - Amy Romstadt - 33:50.60
Men's Results (1st of 3 - 29 points)
4th - Micah Sneller - 30:28.9
10th - Reed Vaughn - 31:22.2
13th - Nathan Bierema - 32:18.8
16th - Hunter Rasmussen - 32:49.5
18th - Phil Moore - 32:57.9
25th - Josh Humpherys - 34:16.5
28th - Zach Atchison - 35:09.7
31st - Eliot Gardner - 35:22.9
49th - Charles Taylor - 43:07.3
UP NEXT
Covenant will take another week off from competition before racing in the Berry College Viking Open on Oct. 17 in Rome, Ga.