EWING, VA – The UVA Wise cross country teams opened their 2024 season Friday evening as they ran in the Railsplitter Open, which was held at the Monte Vista Golf Course in Ewing, Virginia.

Both the men's and women's teams finished in third place, behind host Lincoln Memorial University and Carson-Newman University. The women finished with 64 points and the men finished with 66 points.

Lydia Slemp led the way for the Highland Cavalier women in their 4K event as she finished seventh with a time of 16:32.6. Alexsis Porter was not far behind in ninth with a 16:49.9 time.

Destyne Rutherford placed seventeenth with her 17:33.9 finish, and nineteenth place was claimed by Shaylen Cannon with 17:36.2. Grace Adams was 23^rd with 18:45.3.

Kaylene Fields (19:29.2) was 25^th, followed closely by Nina Erickson (19:48.0) at 26^th. Nicole Poston (20:22.7) and Jayden Sisk (20:28.8) and 28^th and 29^th, respectively.

Ameila Hamilton finished 31^st with her time of 20:40.7, and Alissa Green was 34^th with 22:06.8.

Jonah Adams led the way for the men's team in their 6K event as he finished in seventh place with 20:42.3. Dorian Almer placed tenth with 22:09.4,

Chad Douglas (22:47.8) was fourteenth, while Jerry Hamilton (23:31.0) was seventeenth. Bennett Brunner (23:52.3) and Matthew Rhoton (24:31.0) placed 20^th and 22^nd, respectively.

Eli Blanton placed 28^th with a time of 26:22.0, and Carson Latham finished in 29^th with his 26:53.7 finish.

The teams will next race in the Cherokee Farms Invitation in Knoxville on September 21^st. Women run at 9:30 a.m. and the men at 10:30 a.m.