OXFORD, Ala. - Faulkner Cross Country opened its season with the annual Foothills Invitational at Choccolocco Park. In 5K races for both the men and women, five Eagles earned personal records, making for a strong start to the year in a field featuring seven NCAA Division I teams on the men's side and eight on the women's. 

The men, featuring four newcomers, finished in 14th place out of 17 teams with 383 points. Senior Creed Spivey led the team, finishing 76th with a 17:25.7 time. JUCO transfer Chase Lawson was just behind Spivey with a 17:30.4. Another JUCO transfer in Christopher Santoyo was next with an 18:28.2 as the 107th finisher. Senior Cole Charles finished three spots behind him with an 18:31.3, while the final senior Carson Roberson came in seven spots after Charles with an 18:57.2. Kayden Pierce was the 128th finisher with a 19:23.2. James Brooks finished the team with 21:11.7. Spivey, Lawson and Brooks all earned personal records. With their finish, the Eagles outperformed crosstown rivals DI Alabama State and DIII Huntingdon as well as DIII Mississippi University for Women.

Only four Lady Eagles ran, knocking them out of contention to post a team score. Avery Rogers led the pack with a 74th place finish and a 21:09.7 time. Freshman Mallory Lawyer was next on the team with a 22:26.8 for a 104th place finish. Fellow freshman Lacy Strength finished seven spots behind with a 22:49.7 time. Senior Sarah Lorimor was the last Lady Eagle with a 25:18 finish. She and Strength each finished with personal records. 

The teams will return to action in another meet hosted by DI Jacksonville State, this time the annual Southern Showcase in Huntsville, on Sep. 18. The men will run an 8K at 7:30 am and the women follow with a 5K at 8:20 am.