CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Hannah Moran took down yet another school record on Friday with her 15:54.32 performance in the 5,000m at the Virginia Challenge. Chloe Wellings also had a superb showing, becoming just the then-third Highlander ever under 17 minutes in the event with a personal-best 16:55.39.

Wellings came quite close to Teresa Williamson's 2014 school record in the event, missing out on holding the record by .06 seconds.

Had Wellings snagged the record, however, it would not have lasted long as Hannah Moran toed the line only a few hours later.

Moran's time made her the first Radford runner ever to break 16 minutes in the event and just the second in Big South history. The Big South record is down at 15:48.63 and was set by Ednah Kurgat in 2016. Kurgat would go on to win an NCAA individual crown in cross country representing the New Mexico Lobos.

Prior to Friday, only two Highlanders had ever even broken 17 in the 5,000m outdoors. Wellings and Moran bring the total to four and set a new standard for speed in the event.

Relative to her competitors, Moran once again used her smart tactics and strong finish to bring herself up to fifth place in the race which featured a stellar field. Katelyn Touhy would go on to take the win, breaking the meet and facility records in the process in 15:14.61. 

Speaking of the excellent field, entering Friday only 33 runners nationally had broken the 16 minute barrier on the season. Nine more hit the mark in Friday night's invitational race.

UP NEXT
Two more Highlanders in Bayle Wood and Austin Swallow will be in action, this time at Lenoir-Rhyne's LR Outdoor Open.

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