CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Ave Maria University cross country teams competed Friday evening at the Royals Cross Country Challenge, hosted by Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. The massive event featured over 1,000 runners between the men's and women's races, and saw the Gyrene women finish in 36th place of 63 teams, and the men place 45th of 57 teams.

The women's finish saw the Gyrenes place above an NCAA Division I program in Gardner-Webb, as well as a number of NAIA programs from around the southeast. The overall event was won by Lee University, who boasted two of the top five runners in the race. Hannah Steelman from NCAA Division I Wofford was the individual champion.

Mary Goetz was the lead runner for Ave Maria, finishing the course in a time of 18:51.8, good for 74th place in a field of over 500 runners. Goetz's time was the second fastest of her career, behind only her time from last season's National Championships. The Gyrene team score was rounded out by Madeline Rublee (20:52.4), Hannah Francis (20:58.2), Grace McKillip (21:00.2), and Isabella Schlitz (21:46.3). 

On the men's side, the Gyrenes' team score topped Gardner-Webb as well, and was above conference rival USC Beaufort. Five of the top 20 runners came from Lee University, who swept the team championships. The individual champion came from UNC Pembroke, as Joshua Chepkesir crossed the finish line in 23:22.7.

Gabriel Hogan ran the third fastest time of his career, which also ranks third in school history. The senior finished in 26:38.5, a time that was over a minute faster than his previous best this season. The next four runners that finished for the Gyrenes were Jonathan Kohr (27:50.1), DJ Mason (28:22.6), Trevor Reagle (28:50.3), and Joseph Mullally (29:10.2).

The regular season for the AMU cross country teams concludes next Saturday, when the Gyrenes run at the Asics Sandshark Invitational at USC Beaufort. The notoriously fast course will also be the site of The Sun Conference Championships on November 9. The Sandshark Invitational will begin at 8:00 a.m. with the men's race, with the women's race following at 8:45.