MACON, Ga. --- The Chattanooga women's cross country team was edged out of second by host Mercer while the men finished behind Samford by five points for third at the Mercer Invitational Friday evening at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course.
 
"We did a fair job today," Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said. "We definitely have left ourselves room for improvement. First race in almost a year for many of the kids and it was a little eye opening."
 
Makenzie Jones paced the women with a second place finish at 18:24.48 and Lesley Green was the second Chattanooga runner across the line with a time of 19:43.77.
 
Sophia Neglia (19:53.31) was third for UTC in 12^th place and Ashylnd Broling Miller placed 17^th with a time of 20:04.16. Freshman Brooke Rieves was the final scoring runner for the Mocs at 21:05.89.
 
Chattanooga finished third overall with 62 points, just behind Samford at second with 60 points. Samford was the overall winner led by McKenzie Hogue who took first with a time of 18:13.13.
 
"Makenzie, Lesley and Sophia ran well up front," Meyer added. "Jonathan, Jake and Seth ran impressively to anchor the men's team."
 
Jonathan Boyd was third for the men with a time of 26:50.18 sandwiched between a pair of Mercer runners. Jake Etheridge was sixth overall at 27:08.96 and freshman Seth Robinson was third for the Mocs with a time of 27.27.78 in 11^th place.
 
Kaigen Mulkey finished with a time of 28:00.72 and Ryan Phillips was the final scoring runner for UTC at 28:08.82.
 
UTC was third overall, just five points behind Samford with 55 points. Mercer was the overall winner in the Pre-Conference meet.
 
"Both teams were a combined seven points out of second place," Meyer said. "We have to get better at competing for place and not settling. This definitely will be better by conference."
 
This was the only meet for Chattanooga this year after the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mocs will return to the pitch on November 21 for the Southern Conference Championships. They will be hosted by Mercer and run at the same course.
 
Team Results - Women

1	Samford	29
2	Mercer	60
3	Chattanooga	62
4	Western Carolina	78

 
Individual Results – Women

2	Makenzie Jones	18:24.48
10	Lesley Green	19:43.77
12	Sophia Neglia	19:53.31
17	Ashlynd Broling Miller	20:04.16
21	Brooke Rieves	21:05.89
26	Faith Brown	21:31.14
30	Jada Hale	22:57.74
32	Carley Burt	23:52.63

 
Team Results – Men

1	Mercer	24
2	Samford	50
3	Chattanooga	55
4	High Point	96
--	Western Carolina	no team score

 
Individual Results – Men

3	Jonathan Boyd	26:50.18
6	Jake Etheridge	27:08.96
11	Seth Robinson	27:27.78
18	Kaigen Mulkey	28:00.72
20	Ryan Phillips	28:08.82
26	Jasper Wilson	29:07.15
33	Jacob Boykin	31:16.95