SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Longwood women's cross country has had quite the glow-up this season.
 
Sophie Farley broke the team's 5K record, and the Lancers finished fourth out of 19 teams at the USC Upstate Invitational on Saturday morning.
 
NOTABLE RESULTS:
 
Longwood's top five posted an average time of 18:35, the best mark in team history, and it paved the way for Longwood to have its best team 5K ever. The Lancers beat South Carolina, who finished fifth. Longwood also edged fellow Big South foes Gardner-Webb and USC Upstate while finishing one spot behind UNC Asheville.
 
Farley once again led the charge for Longwood. The reigning Big South Women's Runner of the Week finished fifth in the 192-runner field.
 
She posted a 17:58.8, shattering her previous best set at the Louisville Classic earlier this year of 18:38.4. She became the first runner in team history to break the 18-minute mark, breaking Casey Williams' record set at 18:09.9 in 2021.
 
Kirsten Morley crossed the line 26^th and shattered her own personal best time. She ripped off an 18:36.6, breaking her PR by more than 40 seconds. Her time slots as the 10^th fastest time in team history to boot.
 
Sam Bolen also broke her personal best as well, cracking the 19-minute barrier for the first time. She finished 27^th on the strength of an 18:39.3. She broke her PR by nearly 30 seconds, which she had set one week ago.
 
Priscilla Keller finished 33^rd after breaking the 19-minute mark for the first time. She shaved 30 seconds off her PR with an 18:44.7.
 
Lanie Grogg rounded out the scoring group with an 18:58.2, also shattering her personal best as well. She broke the 19-minute mark for the first time in her career, breaking her personal best by more than 40 seconds as well.
 
The PRs didn't stop with the top five either. Haley Slattery hammered out a 19:00.0, a new top mark. Nicole Pinder added her best time ever with a 19:10.1, breaking her previous best by 30 seconds.
 
Madison Davis added her name to the PR lest with a 19:12.9, and Olivia Meier did the same with a 20:12.0. Emily Johnston (20:23.2), Lauren Vick (20:44.2), Kai Wheeler (20:55.4), Jensen Auman (21:31.2), and Cassandra Miller (22:11.3) all set personal bests as well.
 
WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"This season has been about raising the standard for the program, and they have fully embraced that every time they toe the line," said Longwood Director of Cross Country & Track Brooke Craig. "Today was a huge step in the direction these women want to take this program. They've been focusing on having fun and with that comes running fast. This is a special group of women who have bought in. The job's not done yet, on to conference in two weeks."
 
"Not only did Sophie run the school record, but she smashed her PR and broke the 18-minute barrier," Craig added about Farley's outstanding finish. "The girl runs with guts, and it's paying off."
 
FULL RESULTS:
 
4. Longwood: 5-25-26-31-36(37)(45)
 
5. Sophie Farley: 17:58.8
26. Kirsten Morley: 18:36.6
27. Sam Bolen: 18:39.3
33. Priscilla Keller: 18:44.7
38. Lanie Grogg: 18:59.2
40. Haley Slattery: 19:00.0
49. Nicole Pinder: 19:10.1
52. Madison Davis: 19:12.9
105. Olivia Meier: 20:12.0
114. Emily Johnston: 20:23.2
130. Lauren Vick: 20:44.2
133. Kai Wheeler: 20:55.4
154. Jensen Auman: 21:31.2
165. Cassandra Miller: 22:11.3
 
UP NEXT:
 
The regular season is complete, and now the Lancers will race in the Big South Conference Women's Cross Country Championship on Friday, November 1.
 
#GoWood #HorsePower