Individual Success: A Theme In Union Cross-Country Season Opener

Memphis, Tenn. –Union University’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams opened their season last Saturday night at the City Auto Memphis Twilight XC Classic, with both teams taking home a 10th-place finish after a hot race featuring both NCAA Division I and Division II teams.

The men’s team finished third out of all Division II teams, behind Harding University (fifth place) and Gulf South Conference foe University of Alabama-Huntsville (sixth place). Other GSC teams to finish behind the Bulldogs were University of West Alabama (13th), Christian Brothers University (16th) and University of Montevallo (17th).

The Bulldogs were led by senior cell and molecular biology major Aaron Fynaardt, who finished 20th.

Four other Bulldogs (Luke Winkleman, Jonny Lewis, Jeb Hamilton and Jude Sparkman) finished in the top 100.

On the women’s side, the Lady Bulldogs finished 10th as well, and also finished third out of the Division II teams present. They, like the men, finished behind Harding (fourth) and UAH (sixth), while finishing ahead of the other GSC teams competing: CBU (13th), Montevallo (15th) and UWA (17th).

The Lady Bulldogs were led by senior cell and molecular biology major Addi Aguayo, who finished fourth overall, first among Division Two runners, and set a school record for the 5k distance with a time of 17 minutes, 29 seconds. Senior elementary education major Victoria Markham also finished 16th with a time of 18 minutes, 12 seconds, which was good for eighth on the all-time list.

The Lady Bulldogs had one other runner finish in the top 100: Freshman Elodie Weaver, who finished 91st.

Fynaardt attributed the success of both teams to hours put in over the summer.

“Fall success is a good indicator of summer success. You work really hard over the summer, and you don’t really see it pay off,” Fynaardt said. “But to see it pay off a little bit, even in the first race with a long season ahead, is pretty satisfying.”

Both teams will be back in action on September 18 at the Randolph Invitational in Birmingham, Ala.