CHARLOTTE – The Elon women's cross country team continued its unbeaten start to the 2026 season Friday night, winning the Queen City Invite at McAlpine Creek Park. The Phoenix placed four runners among the top five individually and finished with 24 points to secure its second team victory in as many meets this season.
 
Freshman Brynne Gordon led Elon with a runner-up finish in the women's 5K, clocking 17:23.8 for the eighth-fastest 5K time in program history. Senior Abby Beville followed in third at 17:24.9, while freshman Millie Gold placed fourth in 17:32.0 and Hannah Weber finished fifth with a personal-best 17:39.4.
 
On the men's side, Elon placed fourth in the 8K with 149 points. Fifth-year Evan Taylor paced the Phoenix for the second straight meet, finishing 18th in 25:26.4.
 
WOMEN'S 5K

• Elon packed four runners into the top five, led by Gordon's runner-up performance. Her time of 17:23.8 moved her to No. 8 on Elon's all-time 5K performance list in just the second race of her collegiate career.
• Beville crossed the line just 1.1 seconds behind Gordon to finish third in 17:24.9. The reigning CAA Co-Runner of the Week has placed among the top three in each of Elon's first two meets this season.
• Gold continued a strong start to her freshman season, finishing fourth in 17:32.0. She has placed among Elon's top three runners in each of her first two collegiate races.
• Weber completed Elon's run of four consecutive finishers from second through fifth, posting a personal-best 17:39.4.
• Quinn Smith rounded out Elon's scoring five in 11th place with a personal-best time of 17:56.9.
• Elon finished 39 points ahead of runner-up Charlotte, which recorded 63 points. Marshall was third with 75, North Florida placed fourth with 88 and host Queens rounded out the top five with 205.
• Adriana Luking was Elon's sixth finisher, placing 17th in 18:14.5. Cami Glebocki followed in 23rd at 18:24.7.
• Winter Oaster added a personal-best 18:44.2 to place 30th, followed by Emilia Smith in 37th (18:51.9) and Ashland Dickel in 44th (19:13.4).

 
MEN'S 8K

• Taylor led Elon for the second consecutive meet, finishing 18th overall in 25:26.4.
• Luke Chisum was the second Phoenix runner across the line, placing 26th in 25:41.0.
• Kevin Steinman and Josh Driscoll finished back-to-back in 38th and 39th, respectively. Steinman crossed in 26:13.8, while Driscoll followed in 26:18.0.
• Franklin Wimbish completed Elon's scoring five with a 53rd-place finish in 26:42.4, giving the Phoenix 149 points.
• Charlotte won the men's team title with 41 points, edging North Florida's 44. Marshall finished third with 138 points, 11 ahead of Elon. Lenoir-Rhyne rounded out the top five with 154.
• Peyton Johnson placed 67th in 27:04.2, followed by Garrison Franks in 71st at 27:09.9 and Gavin Hasson in 83rd at 27:26.9.
• Juan Pablo Castillo-Zima finished 94th in 27:38.6, while Tre Kelly crossed in 27:46.0 to place 94th.

 
WOMEN'S 5K – RESULTS
Team (Top 5)
1. Elon (24 points)
2. Charlotte (63)
3. Marshall (75)
4. North Florida (88)
5. Queens (205)
 
Individual
2. Brynne Gordon (17:23.8 // No. 8 program history)
3. Abby Beville (17:24.9)
4. Millie Gold (17:32.0)
5. Hannah Weber (17:39.4 – PB)
11. Quinn Smith (17:56.9 – PB)
17. Adriana Luking (18:14.5)
23. Cami Glebocki (18:24.7)
30. Winter Oaster (18:44.2 – PB)
37. Emilia Smith (18:51.9)
44. Ashland Dickel (19:13.4)
 
MEN'S 8K – RESULTS
Team (Top 5)
1. Charlotte (41)
2. North Florida (44)
3. Marshall (138)
4. Elon (149)
5. Lenoir-Rhyne (154)
 
Individual
18. Evan Taylor (25:26.4)
26. Luke Chisum (25.41.0)
38. Kevin Steinman (26:13.8)
39. Josh Driscoll (26:18.0)
53. Franklin Wimbish (26:42.4)
67. Peyton Johnson (27:04.2)
71. Garrison Franks (27:09.9)
83. Gavin Hasson (27:26.9)
88. Juan Pablo Castillo-Zima (27:38.6)
94. Tre Kelly (27:46.0)
 
STAY POSTED
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