CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Running the course they will run in two weeks for the SAC Championships, the Lincoln Memorial men's and women's cross country teams both put together strong top-15 performances. The men were again paced by Gidion Sigei, while the women were led by Brooke Foster.

"This meet was circled on our calendars, not only as a preview of the conference course, but also as an opportunity to run fast," stated head coach Evan Darm.
 
The women placed 15^th in a field of over 30 teams, with a total score of 428. Cedarville won the event with 38 points, followed by Milligan (95), College of Charleston (153), Davidson (161), and Malone (171) rounding out the top 5. LMU's score was better than conference foes Tusculum and Carson-Newman, as well as Division I opponents Gardner-Webb and The Citadel.
 
Brooke Foster was the first Lady Railsplitter to cross the finish line, as she came in 55^th with a time of 18:37, with Amelia Lorrey right behind her in 59^th at 18:40. Harper Russell was the third LMU runner to finish, as she was 103^rd with a time of 19:16, Elke Wijkmans was 144^th at 19:42, and Gillian Strealy rounded out the top 5 with a time of 20:11 to finish 174^th. Grace Rose finished in 21:56 to take 213^th, while Megyn Spicer came in 244^th with a time of 21:56 to complete the LMU top 7. Kirsten Keith (22:37), Lillian Turley (22:41), and Tabea Kandlbauer (22:58) also competed for the Lady Railsplitters.
 
Foster, Lorrey, Russell, Strealy, Rose, Keith, and Turley all ran personal bests today in Charlotte. Spicer and Wijkmans both made their LMU debuts today, while Kandlbauer competed in her first race of the season.

"Brooke dropped a big lifetime personal best and is gaining momentum as we head towards the postseason," said Darm. "Amelia really stepped up today when we needed her, and that's the impact a graduate student can have on an inexperienced team."
 
The men were 14^th out of 35 teams, with a team score of 405. Charleston won the race with a team score of 42, followed by Wake Forest (123), Wingate (133), Milligan (136), and Cedarville (165). LMU's 14^th place finish was better than fellow SAC members Tusculum and Carson-Newman, and bested Division I schools such as Charlotte, The Citadel and Gardner-Webb.
 
The freshman Sigei again was the first Railsplitter to finish, as he placed 4^th, with a time of 23:41. Roberto Fajardo followed in 53^rd finishing in 24:44, Mason Johns timed in at 25:50 to place 130^th, with Caleb Rigney right behind him in 132^nd with a time of 25:50, and Benjamin Trimm completing the scoring for LMU with a 185^th place finish in 26:31. Marig Engelbrecht (26:50) was 207^th, Isaac Korir (27:02) was 217^th, and Jacey Grabeel (36:09) finished in 331^st place.

"On the men's side, the entire team once again ran new personal bests. That's quite an accomplishment in back to back races," Darm remarked. "Gidion and Roberto have led us all year long and are eager to get to the championship races. Now we turn our attention to the SAC championships in two weeks, as a team."
 
Women's Individual 5K Results
55^th Brooke Foster (18:37.5)
59^th Amelia Lorrey (18:40.2)
103^rd Harper Russell (19:16.3)
144^th Elke Wijkmans (19:42.5)
174^th Gillian Strealy (20:11.4)
213^th Grace Rose (20:58.9)
244^th Megyn Spicer (21:56.1)
259^th Kirsten Keith (22:37.4)
260^th Lillian Turley (22:41.6)
264^th Tabea Kandlbauer (22:58.1)
 
 
Men's Individual 8K Results
4^th Gidion Sigei (23:41.8)
53^rd Roberto Fajardo (24:44.7)
130^th Mason Johns (25:50.2)
132^nd Caleb Rigney (25:50.4)
185^th Benjamin Trimm (26:31.0)
207^th Marig Engelbrecht (26:50.2)
217^th Isaac Korir (27.02.0)
331^st Jacey Grabeel (36.09.6)
 
 
Up Next
The teams will travel back to Charlotte on Saturday, October 23^rd for the SAC Championships and then compete in NCAA Regionals on Saturday, November 6^th in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter cross country leading up to the 2021 season.