LAKELAND, Fla. – The Fire women's Cross Country Team opened its 2026 campaign with a third-place finish at the Uncle Nick's Swan City Bagel Run on Saturday morning at Holloway Park.
The Fire finished with 75 points in the 4.2-kilometer race, placing third in the six-team field behind Florida Southern and Tampa. Southeastern's five scoring runners combined for a time of 1:21:20 and an average time of 16:16.
Sophomore Acadia Donovan led the Fire with an eighth-place finish, completing the course in 15:33.8 with an average mile pace of 5:57.8.
Izzy Colebank joined Donovan inside the top 15, crossing the line 13th overall in 15:59.3.
Joslyn Armstrong was the third Fire runner across the line, finishing 25th overall in 16:23.7. Freshman Kate Molloy followed in 30th with a time of 16:41.9 in her collegiate debut, while junior Ashlin Price rounded out Southeastern's scoring five just one spot behind Molloy in 31st at 16:42.4.
Jadyn DeVerna finished 33rd overall in 16:54.8, while Ashlyn Poulin crossed the line 35th in 16:57.1 to complete the Fire's top seven.
Gracie McGee recorded a time of 17:07.3 to finish 42nd, followed by Sarina Mays in 44th with a time of 17:21.1. Juliet Letherbarrow completed Southeastern's group with a time of 22:53.0, finishing 65th overall.
Florida Southern won the team title with 23 points, followed by Tampa with 40 and Southeastern with 75.
Up next, the Fire head to Panama City, Fla. for the Baptist University of Florida Eagle Invitational, scheduled for a 8:45 a.m. start on Sept. 18.
