Cross Country 1/29/2021 5:00:00 PM

Men and Women Make Strong First Impression at Big South Invite

ROCK HILL, S.C. – Rachel Millirons' first-place finish amongst all competition highlighted the day for Radford at the Big South Invite hosted by Winthrop Friday afternoon, with both the men's and women's teams placing second.

Millirons' first place finish came in at a time of 18:03.1, which is good enough for fourth fastest in program history for the 5k event. Her time was three seconds faster than the next competitor, and a full 17 seconds faster than the third-place finisher. The transfer Rachel Werking also made a great first impression in her Highlander debut placing fifth overall in the race.

MacKenzie Gardner was the next fastest Highlander, breaking her previous personal record in the 5k race and placing 14th overall. The duo of freshmen Chloe Wellings and MegAnne Gilmore also placed within the top-25 competitors in their Highlander debut.

The women's second place finish was an incredibly strong placement as it came 49 points higher than the next highest finishing team UNC Asheville. All five of the point-recording Highlanders came within the top-16 of competitors, with only one other team amounting three or more racers in that same range.

Callum Wilson was the Highlanders' top performer of the day on the men's side, breaking his previous personal best time in the 8k by 25 seconds to place fifth overall in the event. The sophomore Bus Baker also shattered his old personal record by over a minute to place ninth. Peyton Hurd also placed 12th for Radford, breaking his previous best time by just under a minute.

Nate Jennings was the top of the freshman runners for the Highlanders, placing seventh overall in the event just a few seconds behind a top-five finish. Joshua Daggett, Sam Sikora, Alejo Cobos, and Luke Richards all also competed strongly in their first time out as Highlanders.

The men's second-place finish was 30 points better than the next closest team UNC Asheville. Radford's three top-ten finishers was also second-best, with only one other team having more than one.

"We asked our men and women to do something they have never done before, put themselves in the front of a race and compete," commented assistant cross country coach Mike Bianchina. "Both the men and women did an incredible job. Our men had one of the best overall performances in the last 30 years and our women followed it up with an incredible season opener capped off by Millirons taking home the individual title. Couldn't have asked for more from them today."

Radford turns its attention next to the Inaugural Highlander Invitational which will be the first cross country meet hosted by Radford in program history. The meet is schedule for Friday, February 12th, will include Big South competition, and will be the final tune-up for the Highlanders before the Big South Championships in March.

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