Women’s Cross Country Earn Back-to-Back Conference Championship Titles, Men Place Third

Friday, November 1

Jacksonville, Fla.

Lipscomb University

ASUN Championships

Women’s Cross Country Earn Back-to-Back Conference Championship Titles, Men Place Third

11/1/2024 10:30:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

NASHVILLE, TN – Lipscomb traveled to Jacksonville to post impressive performances at Cecil Field at the 2024 ASUN Cross Country Championship. The women earned their 11^th ASUN Conference Champion title after claiming seven of the top eight finishing spots for a team score of 16. The women's 53-point margin of victory will go down as the largest in ASUN history. The men placed third with 63 points.

Women's 5k Race
The women started their race at 8:00 AM EST and posted a near-perfect score to bring the hardware back to Nashville. Kiara Smeltz led the pack, claiming her second consecutive ASUN Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year honor. Smeltz smashed her previous personal best in the 5k by 27 seconds with a time of 16:27.6 to lead all runners.

Smeltz was followed closely behind by Mackenzie Barnett, who finished a tenth of a second behind the Runner of the Year with a time of 16:27.7. Barnett also recorded a personal best, running 34.8 seconds under her previous all-time low.

Colbi Borland finished third overall with a time of 16:36.0 and Harley Kletz in fourth with a career-low time of 16:44.2. A UNF athlete claimed fifth place but was followed by three consecutive Bisons with Linda Perez (16:49.0 – personal best), Ellie Brewer (16:57.6 – personal best), and Carmen Krawczynski Gonzalez (17:02.2 – personal best) placing six, seventh, and eighth respectively.

Abby Horevay (17:24.0 – personal best) claimed 12^th for the Bisons, flowed by Leonie Saurer (17:32.0 – personal best) in 15^th. Lipscomb was rounded out by Juane' Klaus (18:12.4 – personal best) in 34^th of the 97 runners.

FULL RESULTS
Full Women's Results
(1) Kiara Smeltz - 16:27.6
(2) Mackenzie Barnett - 16:27.7
(3) Colbi Borland - 16:36.0
(4) Harley Kletz - 16:44.2
(6) Linda Perez - 16:49.0
(7) Ellie Brewer - 16:57.6
(8) Carmen Krawczynski Gonzalez - 17:02.2
(12) Abigail Horevay - 17:24.0
(15) Leonie Saurer - 17:32.0
(34) Juane' Klaus - 18:12.4

Men's 8k Race
The men started their race at 8:45 AM EST and placed at the ASUN Men's Cross Country Championship. Braedon Palmer led the Bisons to place fifth with a time of 23:54.3. Matt Hansen also recorded a finish in the top ten, placing tenth with a. time of 24:00.9. Ben Butcher followed Hansen closely behind, recording a 24:06.5 in the race.

Cole Kimmel (24:19.4 – personal best) claimed 18^th and Will Goodrich (24:23.4 – personal best) tailed for 19^th. Levi Streeval (24:27.5 – personal best) crossed the line in 22^nd, followed by Owen Horevay (24:29.0) in 23^rd.

Connor Sarkovics (24:58.6) finished 34^th and James Schmidt (25:06.2) crossed the finish line in 36^th. Lipscomb was rounded out by Any Stohr (25:32.7) in 48^th of the 110 runners.

FULL RESULTS
Full Men's Results
(5) Braedon Palmer - 23:54.3
(10) Matt Hansen - 24:00.9
(11) Ben Butcher - 24:06.5
(18) Cole Kimmel - 24:19.49
(19) Will Goodrich - 24:23.4
(22) Levi Streeval - 24:27.5
(23) Owen Horevay - 24:29.0
(34) Connor Sarkovics - 24:58.6
(36) James Schmidt - 25:06.2
(48) Andy Stohr - 25:32.7

UP NEXT
Lipscomb's next race will take on the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, FL. on Friday, Nov. 15^th.