HARROGATE, Tenn. -- As the end of the year approaches, the Lincoln Memorial University athletics department is counting down the top 20 moments of 2015. Junior runner Whitney Elliott (LaFollette, Tenn.) makes her second appearance in the year-end countdown, coming in at No. 12 with a stellar performance at a major cross country event.
 
After notching a runner-up finish at the season-opening Sewanee Invitational, expectations were high for Elliott heading into the Furman Cross Country Classic on September 12.
 
She utterly obliterated those expectations, though.
 
Elliott completed the 6k course in 22:36.80, cutting 33 seconds off of her time at the Sewanee Invitational and placing fifth out of the 206 runners competing in her field. With that showing, Elliott helped the Lady Railsplitters notch a sixth-place finish in an event that consisted of 22 teams from the NCAA Division II, Division III and the NAIA.
 
Furman also hosted a Division I cross country meet that same day, and Elliott's time would have ranked 35th in that race, which featured several teams from the ACC and SEC.
 
Elliott would go on to earn All-South Atlantic Conference first team and All-Southeast Region distinctions at the end of the 2015 cross country campaign.
 
The top 20 moments of 2015 countdown continues on Saturday with moment No. 11. 

Relive the top 20 moments of 2015
No. 20 - Senior Day Surprise
No. 19 - Doubles Dominance
No. 18 - SAC Cross Country Championship Comes to Town
No. 17 - Elliott Shines in SAC Track and Field Championship
No. 16 - Baseball Takes Two from Carson-Newman in Dramatic Fashion
No. 15 - Vasilyeva Wins 10th Straight Singles Match
No. 14 - 4x400 Relay Team Takes Second in SAC Championship
No. 13 - Volleyball Sweeps Carson-Newman Behind Electric Mary Mars Crowd