ELON, N.C.— The Montreat College women's cross country team began its season with the Elon Opener Friday night. In total, 107 competitors from different schools participated in the event. Montreat finished seventh out of 11 teams. The Elon Opener served as a great launch for the year, as the race was only four kilometers, two short of the normal 6k distance for women's cross country.
 
Cavalier runners totaled a final score of 217. The team accomplishment was 72 more than sixth-place Campbell University and 28 fewer than eighth-place UNC Wilmington.
 
Heather Murphy led the Cavs with a fifth-place finish. Murphy clocked a 13:54.6 in the event. Following the Irish runner, junior Carlyn Bobo placed 37^th out of 104 finishers. Her time of 15:00.8 was good enough for a new personal best. Elena Fibraio was the third Cavalier to cross the finish line. She ran a 15:37.7 and placed 54^th in the twilight race.
 
The next four Cavs all finished in a pack. Anna Baugh led that grouping with an 81^st-place finish after a personal-best effort of 16:42.2. Following Baugh, the next three Montreat runners finished consecutively in 84^th, 85^th and 86^th. Natalia Nieto, Ragan Speer and Emily Standifer were the participants, respectively. Nieto finished with a 17:08.7 while Speer recorded a time of 17:10.4. Standifer rounded out the Cavs' performance with a personal-best time of 17:16.7.
 
"Great effort for our women today," said head coach Rylan Hincher. "We are in the thick of some heavy training and are a little tired. We mixed it up amongst great competition and know that we are a better team with the rest of our athletes are out on the course."
 
To see the full results from the Elon Opener, click here.
 
The next event on the docket for the Cavaliers will be on Sept. 12 when they visit Charlotte, N.C. for the Queen City Invite. The women's race will begin at 6 p.m.