FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo women’s cross country team took the top honors at the Tiger Twilight Invitational Sept. 30 hosted by Sewanee, The University of the South.

The Falcons placed six runners in the top-20 and four in the top seven to take first place at the event. UM was the only Peach Belt Conference school at the race. UM finished ahead of Sewanee, University of North Alabama, Birmingham Southern College, Gadsden State College and Oglethorpe University. This is the second time in program history to win the Tiger Twilight Invitational. The Falcons took first at the event in 2009.

UM was led by junior Haley Evans, who led for most of the race before falling to fourth overall late in the 6k event. Evans finished with a time of 24:17.65 which ranks fifth in the UM Record Book for 6k times.

Just one spot behind Evans was sophomore In-Mi Matsunaga, who completed the course in 24:23.00 good for seventh in the UM Record Book. Next in line was junior Kaley Glover, who finished sixth overall with a time of 24:35.49. The final Falcon in the top seven was senior Katherine Schofield, who finished seventh with a time of 24:41.84.

UM’s fifth finisher was senior Ginny Davis, who finished 12th overall with a time of 25:18.22. Senior Whitney Adkins finished 18th overall with a time of 25:35.86.

Freshman Katie Vanover crossed the line 22nd with a time of 26:05.61 while classmate Lauren Recchia finished 24th with a time of 26:11.93.

The final UM finisher was freshman Jill Kleist, who finished 28th overall with a time of 26:58.51.

The Falcons will return to action Friday, Oct. 14 as they travel to the University of Charlotte-Royal Cross Country Challenge.

For the second-straight race the University of Montevallo men’s cross country team continued to rewrite the UM record book as freshman Zackery Walsh broke his own UM Record for time in an 8K that he set in the last race while two other runners broke into the top 10. The Falcons finished second at the Tiger Twilight Invitational. The second-place finish is the highest the Falcons have finished in a race since returning as a varsity sport at UM in 2010.

UM was the only Peach Belt Conference team at the event. The Falcons finished ahead of Birmingham Southern College, the University of North Alabama and Reinhardt College while trailing host Sewanee. Sophomores Aaron Bush, a Shelby County High School graduate, and Mark McDonald were the other two Falcons to break into the top-10. Walsh crossed the line first for the Falcons and fifth overall with a record breaking time of 27:34.05. Bush finished next in sixth overall with the ninth best time in school history with a 28:18.34 while McDonald finished seventh with the tenth fastest time in school history, 28:24.69.

Freshman Nick Fasanello was not far behind in eighth overall with a time of 28:27.15. UM’s fifth finisher was sophomore Jake Davidson, who crossed the line 22nd with a time of 31:12.79.

The final two UM runners were freshman Brian Smith and sophomore Evan Brock. Smith finished just behind Davidson in 24th with a time of 31:19.17 while Brock finished 33rd overall with a time of 33:40.88.

The Falcons will return to action Friday, Oct. 14 as they travel to the Queens University of Charlotte-Royal Cross Country Challenge.