ELON – The Elon women's cross country team opened the 2026 season by winning the Elon Opener for the third consecutive year Friday night on Elon's South Campus, while senior Abby Beville repeated as the individual champion.
 
Beville led a sweep of the top four places for the Phoenix, finishing the women's 4K in 13:58.4. Freshmen Brynne Gordon and Millie Gold also impressed in their collegiate debuts, placing second and fourth, respectively, as Elon finished with 21 points to run away with the team title.
 
On the men's side, Evan Taylor and Luke Chisum finished back-to-back in 10th and 11th place to lead the Phoenix to a fifth-place team finish.
 
The start of the meet was delayed 45 minutes due to inclement weather in the Elon area.
 
WOMEN'S 4K
Beville picked up where she left off at the Elon Opener, becoming the individual champion for the second straight season. She crossed the finish line in 13:58.4, just ahead of Gordon, who placed second in 14:02.2 in her first collegiate race.
 
Hannah Weber followed in third at 14:12.5 before Gold completed Elon's sweep of the top four with a time of 14:21.9 in her collegiate debut.
 
Kate Buerger rounded out Elon's top five with a 12th-place finish in 14:39.1. Quinn Smith was close behind in 14th at 14:43.9.
 
Elon finished with 21 points, well ahead of runner-up Davidson with 93. Catawba placed third with 106 points, followed by Campbell with 109 and UNCG with 155.
 
MEN'S 6K
Taylor opened his fifth-year season by leading the Phoenix with a 10th-place finish in 19:30.1. An All-CAA performer in 2024, Taylor competed just twice for Elon last season, with both appearances coming during the postseason.
 
Chisum crossed the line just two-tenths of a second later, placing 11th in 19:30.3.
 
Josh Driscoll was Elon's third finisher, placing 28th in 20:04.4, while freshman Kevin Steinman finished 36th in 20:19.4. Juan Pablo Castillo-Zima completed the Phoenix scoring five with a 38th-place effort in 20:27.1.
 
Elon totaled 109 points to place fifth. Catawba won the team title with 66 points, followed by Coastal Carolina with 82, High Point with 87 and Davidson with 102.
 
WOMEN'S 4K – RESULTS
Team
1. Elon (21 points)
2. Davidson (93)
3. Catawba (106)
4. Campbell (109)
5. UNCG (155)
 
Individual
1. Abby Beville (13:58.4)
2. Brynne Gordon (14:02.2)
3. Hannah Weber (14:12.5)
4. Millie Gold (14:21.9)
12. Kate Buerger (14:39.1)
14. Quinn Smith (14:43.9)
21. Cami Glebocki (15:00.5)
22. Adriana Luking (15:00.6)
42. Winter Oaster (15:30.2)
43. Ashland Dickel (15:31.3)
56. Anne-Catherine Brown (15:52.9)
64. Emilia Smith (16:00.0)
 
MEN'S 6K – RESULTS
Team
1. Catawba (66 points)
2. Coastal Carolina (82)
3. High Point (87)
4. Davidson (102)
5. Elon (109)
 
Individual
10. Evan Taylor (19:30.1)
11. Luke Chisum (19:30.3)
28. Josh Driscoll (20:04.4)
36. Kevin Steinman (20:19.4)
38. Juan Pablo Castillo-Zima (20:27.1)
42. Tre Kelly (20:33.8)
53. Franklin Wimbish (20:46.2)
56. Garrison Franks (20:53.0)
61. Gavin Hasson (21:03.1)
70. Peyton Johnson (21:12.5)
82. Bryan Hampson (21:35.8)
89. Ryan Frawley (21:49.2)
95. Seth Steiner (22:06.5)
 
STAY POSTED
For further coverage of Elon cross country, follow the Phoenix on X (@ElonXCTF) and Instagram (ElonXCTF).