ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Lewis women's cross country team finished in first place at the Lewis University Earlybird Classic with 18 points to open the 2024 season on Friday (September 6) at the Lewis Cross Country Course. The Flyers placed 38 points ahead of second place Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) who finished with 56 total points. The Flyers finished above three other teams, Purdue Northwest (Ind.), Indiana Tech and Dominican (Ill.).

The Flyers had sophomore Mary Edwards (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) take first in the women's 4000 meter race with a time of 14:20.80. Lewis finished with six runners in the top ten.

Freshman Janellisa Oceguera (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West) was the second runner for Lewis to cross the finish line with a time of 14:52.13 placing second. Not far behind her was sophomore Katie Melzer (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) who placed third with a time of 14:53.44. while freshman Julie Macias (Midlothian, Ill./Bremen) finished behind her with a time of 14:58.96 placing fifth. Freshman Madison Findley (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) placed next at seventh place with a time of 15:00.64 with senior Carly Shipman (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) finishing after Findley with a time of 15:13.73 earning her ninth place. Eleventh place was earned by senior Chloe Wannamaker (Overland Park, Kan./Shawnee Mission South) who had a time of 15:15.57.

UP NEXT
The Lewis women's cross country team is back in action on Friday, Sept. 20 at the National Catholic Invite in South Bend, Ind.