JACKSONVILLE, Ala. –  The University of West Alabama cross country team finished third in both the men’s and women’s races at the Jacksonville State Foothills Invitational on Saturday. 

The UWA women trailed only perennial national contender Emory University and Division I host JSU. The women were led by sophomore Carolyn Mancuso, who covered the 5000 meter course in 19:08 to finish third out of 92 runners. The time was only three seconds off of Mancuso’s all-time best which she set earlier in the year at Southern Mississippi.

Freshman Polina Babkina was second across the line for the Tigers with her 24^th place finish in 20:35, an all-time best. Junior Kelli Hartley finished 28^th in a time of 21:03 and was followed by Jessica Gonzalez (39^th) and Hannah Gray (41^st) with times of 21:47 and 21:54 respectively. Sophomores Amy Benoit and Anne Enoch rounded out the scoring for the Tigers with times of 22:17 and 22:56. The Tigers defeated perennial Gulf South Conference standout UAH for the first time in school history, finishing a mere two points ahead of the potent Chargers.

In the men’s 8K, UWA’s Austin Enriquez was the top finisher for the Tigers.  Enriquez crossed the line at the 26:14 (11^th) mark.  Jonathan Sellers finished on heels of Enriquez with a time of 26:22.  Senior Spencer Gray ran a personal best of 27:48, good enough for 30^th place and led Camden Holmes (40^th) and Deivid Delgado(46^th) across the finish line, as they turned in times of 28:23 and 28:35, both personal bests. Freshman Peter Kazery finished in 56^th place with a time of 29:41.

Both squads return to competition on Saturday, Oct. 24, taking part in the GSC Championships, held in Hoover, Ala.