LANGAN PARK | MOBILE, Ala. - The University of Mobile Men's and Women's Cross Country teams, led by first-year head coach and former Ram Leith Rawson, opened the 2024 season on Friday evening, Aug. 30, competing in the 50th annual Azalea City Classic, hosted by NCAA D-I's University of South Alabama. Both teams ended the season opening meet with top-three finishes in the first race of the year.
Both races on Friday were 5k competitions, with the women's race kicking off the action. The women's team at Mobile eventually placed third overall as a team out of five competing programs, averaging a time of 20:13. Eight Rams from the women's program competed in the season opener, with senior Kayley Burgess pacing the team with a top-15 finish and a time of 19:15.8. Sophomore and UM Ambassador Claire Atkins finished one spot behind Burgess with a 19:36.9 performance.
Full Mobile Women's XC Results
In the men's 5k, Mobile took home second overall with a 15:54 average. Four Rams placed within the top 10 of this year's Azalea City Classic, with Joey Jones leading the charge with a time of 15:32.7 in sixth place. Jacob Harned and Denzel Sawyer followed directly behind Jones in seventh and eighth overall, with Harned producing a time of 15:44. Sawyer notched a personal best with a 15:57.4 time. Rounding out the top 10 was sophomore Joe Stevens, who placed 10th with a time of 16:04.7. 18 total student-athletes from men's cross country competed on Friday.
Full Mobile Men's XC Results
What's Ahead
The Azalea City Classic kicks off back-to-back weeks where both UM Cross Country teams will see action. Both teams at Mobile are scheduled to compete at the Montevallo Falcon Classic for the second meet of the 2024 season on Friday, Sept. 6 in Montevallo, Ala.
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About the University of Mobile
The University of Mobile is a Christ-centered liberal arts and sciences institution with a vision of higher education for a higher purpose, founded to honor God by equipping students for their future professions through rigorous academic preparation and spiritual transformation. Core values are: Christ-Centered, Academically-Focused, Student-Devoted and Distinctively-Driven. The university offers on-campus and online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in over 75 academic programs. Founded in 1961, the University of Mobile is affiliated with the Alabama Baptist State Convention and is located 10 miles north of Mobile, Alabama on a campus of over 880 acres.
For information about the University of Mobile, areas of study, admissions and more, visit umobile.edu, connect with UM on social media @univofmobile, or call Enrollment Services at 1.800.WIN.RAMS or 251.442.2222.
