HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (September 15, 2023) – The University of North Alabama women's cross country team competed in the Southern Showcase at John Hunt Park in Huntsville Friday morning, placing 15th in a strong field of 36 teams from around the region.
 
UNA had a comfortable margin on all the teams behind it with a score of 481, besting the next-highest team — Georgia State with 539 points — by a wide margin. The Lions also had wins over teams such as Louisiana, Troy, Alabama State, Alabama A&M and site host Jacksonville State, among others.
 
The Lions had three of the top 100 scorers in a large field that included over 200 scored times and 325 finishers. For the third time in three races, the Lions were led by junior Gracie Mathews who finished 58th with a personal record time of 18:06.00. This broke last week's UNA Invitational-winning time by 10 seconds.
 
The reigning ASUN Runner of the Week finished in a close pack of runners from Samford, Alabama, Tulane and Mississippi State, edging MSU's Mallory Streetman by six-tenths of a second.
 
She was followed by junior teammate Janeth Jepkirui with a time of 19:03.60 to rank just inside the top 100 scored times. Right on pace with her was fellow junior Laura Mobley, who was the next-scored time at 19:08.20 just five overall places behind her teammate. Also nearby was another junior, Ashlyn Anderson, with a time of 19:12.50.
 
Rounding out the scoring for North Alabama was senior Emily Daniel with a time of 19:45.50 to place in the middle of the field.
 
Next up, the Lions will gear up for the Louisville Cross Country Classic hosted at Tom Sawyer Park in Kentucky on Sept. 30.
 
For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.