With a blistering time of 16:49 in the women’s 5k race, Elon University junior Maria Ahm placed first in the Firetower Project cross country meet in Boone, N.C.
Ahm finished over 23 seconds ahead of Elon freshman Jette Beermann, who placed second in the event, and Elon sophomore Maggie Springer, who placed third. Elon University’s women’s cross country team overall placed first with 28 points, 10 ahead of host and runner-up Appalachian State University. Freshman Leandra Lorenz and junior Hannah Miller also placed in the top 15 for the Phoenix, coming in eighth and 14th overall, respectively.
It is Ahm’s third individual victory at Elon and the first since her victory at March’s Colonial Athletic Association 6k race. It is also the fourth victory for the women’s team in its last five meets, dating back to the 2021 spring season.
Elon’s men’s cross country team finished third overall in the 8k run with 85 points, behind Appalachian State and Montreat University. Junior Aidan Tierney led the way for the Phoenix, finishing fifth overall with a time of 25:34. Freshmen Zane Jackson and Daniel King finished eighth and 19th overall, respectively,
Elon’s cross country teams return to action on Oct. 1 when they compete in the Chanticleer Challenge in Conway, S.C.