OXFORD, Ala.—The Auburn cross country teams got off to a strong start to the 2019 season as the Tiger women won and the men were second at the JSU Strut's Season Opener at Choccolocco Park Friday. It was the women's first team win since capturing the 2016 Strut's Opener.
Sophomore Abbey Zane ran a strong race to win the women's 4k, crossing in 14:36.10, nearly 10 seconds faster than Cadi Rowe of Troy, who finished second in 14:45.90. Fellow sophomores Gig Maddox (14:51.60) and Hannah Tarwater (14:57.90) were third and fifth, respectively.
Freshman Hannah Dyal (15:07.10), junior Louisa McPherson (15:07.50) and senior Presley Weems (15:10.20) crossed in 10th, 11th and 12th-place completing the Tigers' scoring with 28 points, 20 ahead of Troy, who finished second.
Freshman Hunter Harwell and junior Tommy McDonough took second and third, respectively, to pace the men. A native of Mountain Brook, Ala., Harwell crossed the 5k course in 15:38.90, with McDonough less than a second behind, finishing in 15:40.50.
Sophomore Silas Kipngetich (15:45.90) was eighth, senior Andy Smith (15:57.30) was 13th and freshman Evan Rogers (16:02.30) took 18th to round out the Auburn scoring.
The Tigers will next travel to Nashville on September 14 for the Commodore Classic. The men's 8k will begin at 8:30 a.m. CT with the women's 6k at 9:15 a.m.
WOMEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. Auburn 28
2. Troy 48
3. North Alabama 75
4. Emory 109
5. Mercer 128
AUBURN RESULTS (4k)
1. Abbey Zane 14:36.10
3. Gigi Maddox 14:51.60
5. Hannah Tarwater 14:57.90
9. Hannah Dyal 15:07.10
10. Louisa McPherson 15:07.50
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11 Presley Weems 15:10.20
15. Mercy Kiprop 15:19.60
17. Sara Pacer 15:27.10
MEN'S TEAM STANDINGS
1. Emory 29
2. Auburn 44
3. North Alabama 92
4. Oglethorpe 113
5. Troy 150
AUBURN RESULTS (5k)
2. Hunter Harwell 15:38.90
3. Tommy McDonough 15:39.60
8. Silas Kipngetich 15:45.90
13. Andy Smith 15:57.80
18. Evan Rogers 16:02.30
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21. Jackson Thomas 16:06.00
26. Jack Rogers 16:13.20