Lilly Smith collected her first collegiate victory and both Covenant cross country teams placed second at the Maryville College Invitational on Saturday morning.
The victory for Smith is the first of her career and also marks the second straight year that a Covenant runner has won the women's race (Ruthie Cargill in 2015). Smith ran the course in 25:20 to win the college division and also best all other unattached runners in the event.
Joining Smith in the top 10 was Hannah Samuels who finished fourth with a personal record time of 26:18, and Margaret Fitch who placed 10th overall with a time of 27:17 in the 6k. Anna Danek(28:05) and Caroline Pepper (28:42), competing in their first collegiate 6k, finished 13th and 17th, respectively, to round out the top five Covenant runners.
Covenant placed second with 35 total points to finish just behind NCAA Division II member Carson-Newman with 29 points.
On the men's side, Covenant had three runners finish in the top 15 led by Micah Sneller's fourth place finish and 8k time of 30:28. Caleb Keitt was the second Covenant finisher at 31:45 for an 11th place finish, while Nathan Bierema came in 14th with a time of 31:58. Phil Carrenard(32:57) and Phil Moore (33:29) came in 16th and 17th to complete the top five runners for the Scots.
The men also placed second in the team standings with 62 points, 16 behind first place Carson-Newman's 46 total points.
Men's Results:
4th - Micah Sneller - 30:28
11th - Caleb Keitt - 31:45
14th - Nathan Bierema - 31:58
16th - Phil Carrenard - 32:57
17th - Phil Moore - 33:29
22nd - Charles Taylor - 34:29
23rd - Caleb McKillop - 34:50
24th - Zach Atchison - 34:58
30th - Eliot Gardner - 37:28
Women's Results:
1st - Lilly Smith - 25:20
4th - Hannah Samuels - 26:18 (PR)
10th - Margaret Fitch - 27:17
13th - Anna Danek - 28:05
17th - Caroline Pepper - 28:42
32nd - Juliette Henry - 33:30
34th - Hannah Cotton - 34:59
UP NEXT
Covenant will compete in the Piedmont College Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 8. Races start at 10 a.m. in Tallulah Falls, Ga.