Rio women place 3rd at Thundering Herd Invite

Rio Grande Sports Information
     HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The University of Rio Grande women's cross country team opened its 2024 schedule on Friday evening with a third-place finish at the Thundering Herd Cross Country Invitational.
     The RedStorm finished with 81 points overall and topped the other two NAIA squads at the meet - River States Conference members Shawnee State and WVU-Tech.
     It was Rio's first win over rival Shawnee State in a number of years.
     Host Marshall University won the meet with 20 points, while the remaining NCAA Division I entry - Morehead State University - was second with 47 points.
     Marshall's Kylee Mastin won the event, completing the 5k course in 18:05.
     Rio Grande's top finisher was junior Amarissa Kerns (Lancaster, OH), who was seventh in the field 37 runners with a time of 19:03.
     Also representing Rio Grande was freshman Laura Hamm (South Point, OH), who was 12th in a time of 19:31; senior Mackenzie McCarthy (New Franklin, OH), who was 17th after crossing in 20:18; junior Grace Forrest (Woodstock, OH), who was 18th after finishing in 20:58; freshman Kylie Gilmore (Kitts Hill, OH), who placed 28th in 22:47; freshman Rebecca Spohn (New Concord, OH), who was 32rd in a time of 24:47; and freshman Kylie Montgomery (Coal Grove, OH), who was 35th after crossing in 29:05.
     The RedStorm return to action next Friday at the Indiana Wesleyan University Twilight in Marion, Ind.