CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Returning to the SEMO Redhawks Cross Country Invitational for a second year, the Missouri Baptist University women performed nearly identical to 2022. Four Top-20 finishers propelled the Spartans to third place out of six teams on Friday evening at the Osage Centre Fields. Missouri Baptist (75) finished ahead of Maryville University (83), Jefferson College (155), and the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (180).
Top returner
Mia Reed repeated her eighth-place finish on Friday, representing the Spartans' highest finisher. The Augusta, Mo. junior ran a 15:16.70 at a 6:08 mile pace. Sophomore standout
Adrienne Rockette improved last year's finish by one spot, placing 14
th out of 63 runners with a time of 15:37.
Freshman
Angela Ward, a product of Seckman High School, was one of two runners making their Spartan debut. Ward logged the third fastest time for MBU and snuck in under 16 minutes at 15:58.70. Just a few steps behind her was junior
Haley Hernandez, who finished 19
th overall (16:00.20) and shaved off 28 seconds from her time at the 2022 Redhawks Invitational.
Senior
Gracie Kopala and sophomore
Mattie Noyes finished within three seconds of their 4K personal bests. Kopala rounded out MBU's top-five in 22
nd with a time of 16:07.90.
Other MBU finishers:
Brooke Heberer – 34
th – 16:54.30
Mattie Noyes – 41
st – 17:24.30
Lily Harris – 46
th – 18:13.50
Alli Brumfield – 47
th – 18:21.70
MBU will run again next week at the Cottey College Invite on Sept. 8. The trip to Nevada, Missouri, won't be the last for the Spartans as the 2023 AMC Women's Cross Country Championships will also take place at Frank E. Peters Golf Course.
