NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's cross country team, led by Makenzie Jones, placed fourth overall at the Belmont Opener Cross Country Meet at Percy Warner Park. The men fielded just four in their race and did not have enough scoring runners.
 
"We ran well on a cold and rainy day which softened the course a bit," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "It made a hard course even harder.
 
"The ladies did very well. We are pleased with the form right now."
 
Jones led the Mocs and was in the lead pack at the mile mark of the women's 5-kilometer race.
 
"She lost a little concentration and fell to eight-nine at 3-kilometers, but surged hard on the hill and got back to fourth," Meyer said. "If there was another "K" to go, she would have made things interesting."
 
Jones placed fourth overall with a time of 17:52.258, just behind a pair of Miami (Ohio) runners.
 
Lesley Green was 19^th overall with a time of 18:45.999 and freshman Emma Russum was the third UTC runner to finish at 19:17.158. She was followed by Sophia Neglia at 19:17.158 and Allie Potter, coming off an injury, was the final Chattanooga finisher with a time of 22:16.214.
 
"Lesley ran a great race for her to be in the top 20," Meyer said. "Emma and Sophia ran a very steady race and accelerated through the pack throughout the race. Allie is coming off an injury ran well and competed hard."
 
Miami (Ohio) placed fourth in the top eight and their fifth runner was 11^th to claim the title with 29 points. Lipscomb was second with 54 points. Host Belmont finished third 101 points, edging out the Mocs with 111 points for fourth. Northern Kentucky was fifth with 123 points and Murray State was sixth with 166 points.
 
Evansville's Anna Lowry took first in the women's race with a time of 17:42.751.
 
The guys ran with just four in the men's 8-kilomter and did not have enough for a team score.
 
"Being short-handed, we want to focus on really running the second half of the race well," Meyer said. "Kaigen continued to impress with a hard race. Jasper was right behind him and Ryan had a very strong finish. Jacob continues to improve with each race."
 
Kaigen Mulkey was the Mocs' top finisher with a time of 28:10.606 with Jasper Wilson not far behind at 28:36.429. Ryan Phillips covered the course in a time of 29:19.009 and Jacob Boykin crossed the line at 30:50.418.
 
"This race we had some specific things we wanted all the kids to focus on," Meyer said. "They did and accomplished their goals. This was a great way for the kids to start the spring season feeling good about racing!"
 
The RedHawks won the men's race as well with 21 points claiming the top two individual finishes and all five scoring runners in the Top 7. Lipscomb was second with 59 point followed by Tennessee Tech (88), North Alabama (99) and Northern Kentucky with 148 points in fifth place.
 

Women's 5K Results
4	Makenzie Jones	17:52.258
19	Lesley Green	18:45.999
32	Emma Russum	19:17.158
39	Sophia Neglia	19:44.151
67	Allie Potter	22:16.214

 
 

Men's 8K Results
43	Kaigen Mulkey	28:10.606
49	Jasper Wilson	28:36.429
52	Ryan Phillips	29:19.009
60	Jacob Boykin	30:50.418