MU Women 6th at Royal Cross Country Challenge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Mercer's women's cross country team placed sixth out of 21 teams at the Royal Cross Country Challenge on Friday at the McAlpine Creek Park cross country course.

Leading the Bears' pack was junior Kacie Niemann. Niemann completed the five kilometer race in a time of 18:21.96, for her third-consecutive sub-19 minute 5K race this season (and fourth overall). Niemann was 19^th out of 201 runners overall.

A pair of sophomores – Lena Hamvas and Sammy Woller – each ran personal best times and also both breeched the 19-minute barrier for the first time in their careers. Hamvas finished 32^nd in the overall standings in a time of 18:46.86, while Woller crossed the line at 18:54.60 in 37^th place.

Senior Christina Kivi lopped seven seconds off of her previous best 5K time by booking a 19:23.11, good for 54^th place. Sophomore Kylen Hughes made a PR run, as well, and also broke the 20-minute mark for the first time in her young career with a 19:50.89 as Mercer's final scoring runner.

Mercer's team will be off until Saturday, October 29 when the squad competes in the Atlantic Sun Conference championships in Nashville, Tenn.