OXFORD, Ala. – To open the 2024 campaign, the Samford women's cross-country team won the Jacksonville State-hosted Foothills Invitational while the men's squad finished an impressive third on Friday.
 
The Bulldog women finished the 5K with 18 points besting second place and host Jacksonville State by 52 points and third place UAB by 71 points. Friday's victory is the first win for the Samford women since the 2021 Alexander/Asics Invitational.
 
Junior Edie Smith took home the individual win for the Bulldogs beating out a field of 169 participants with a time of 17:44.89. Smith was one of six Bulldogs in the top 10 of the women's race. Adeline Haisch placed second at 17:50.69, with Katie Keller finishing in a time of 17:58.58 to claim fourth. Felicity Hamilton came in fifth with a time of 18:09.00 to round four Bulldogs in the top five.
 
The Samford men's team finished third in the 5k with 109 points behind Jacksonville State (40) and second place Oglethorpe (74). Friday was the first top-three finish for the squad since the 2022 edition of the Foothills Invitational.
 
Individually, Andrew McGinnis paced the men's team with a time of 15:40.05 to finish 10th. Joining McGinnis in the top 20, William Jordan ran the race in a time of 15:43.61 to place 14th in the season opener. David Brown claimed 26th with a 15:52.38 time while Arthur Langley rounded out the Bulldogs in the top 30 and placed 30th with a time of 15:57.99.
 
Samford will next compete in the Southern Showcase on Sept. 13 in Huntsville, Alabama.
 
FULL SAMFORD RESULTS
WOMEN'S TEAM
1. Edie Smith: 17:44.89
2. Adeline Haisch: 17:50.69
4. Katie Keller: 17:58.58
5. Felicity Hamilton: 18:09.00
6. Sinkenesh Parker: 18:11.08
9. Macie Pfeuffer: 18:53.68
31. Bela Doss: 19:37.14
32. Addison Sutton: 19:38.75
36. Isabella Edwards: 19:58.87
 
MEN'S TEAM
10. Andrew McGinnis: 15:40.05
14. William Jordan: 15:43.61
26. David Brown: 15:53.38
30. Arthur Langley: 15:56.99
34. Stephen Jones: 16:06.80
39. Bobby Pautienus: 16:14.62
47. William Tuckis: 16:25.37
50. William Murray: 16:27.52
67. Grayton Murray: 16:51.48
71. Brooks Floyd: 16:57.77
 
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For the latest news and information on Samford Cross Country, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordSports (Facebook), @SamfordXC_TF (Twitter), and @samfordxctf (Instagram).