MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — Edward Waters University Cross Country enjoyed a strong afternoon at the Brewton-Parker Invitational on Friday, highlighted by Alaysa Chipunov capturing the women's individual championship and both the Tigers and Lady Tigers earning third-place team finishes.
Chipunov led the women's 5K from the front, crossing the finish line in 20:39.52 to claim first place overall. Her championship performance helped Edward Waters compile 65 team points, placing the Lady Tigers third behind Georgia Gwinnett College (56) and FSCJ Jacksonville (60).
Edward Waters placed three runners inside the top 10 of the women's race. Behind Chipunov, Maila Tashiro delivered another strong performance, finishing fourth overall with a time of 22:09.73. Paris Mckinnon gave EWU its third top-10 finisher, crossing the line ninth overall in 24:28.01.
Abigail Watt was the fourth Lady Tiger across the finish line, placing 21st with a time of 27:17.59, while Viviandra Phinizee rounded out Edward Waters' scoring five with a 41st-place finish in 30:07.03.
The Lady Tigers' scoring runners combined for a total time of 2:04:41.88 and an average of 24:56.38, the fastest team average listed in the women's results despite EWU finishing third in the point standings.
On the men's side, Edward Waters also put together a third-place team performance, finishing with 83 points. Brewton-Parker captured the team title with 41 points, followed by Georgia Gwinnett College with 71.
Alex Payne, III paced the Tigers in the 7,700-meter race, finishing eighth overall with a time of 29:42.20. Teammate Jayson Smith followed closely behind, giving EWU back-to-back top-10 finishers by placing ninth in 30:41.47.
Grey Murphy was the next Tiger across the line, recording a 20th-place finish with a time of 32:45.37. Myles Stewart finished 26th overall in 33:06.47, while Joshua Walkes completed EWU's five scoring positions by finishing 31st with a time of 33:30.87.
Amari Mckinnon rounded out the Edward Waters contingent, placing 49th overall after crossing the finish line in 36:19.53.
The Tigers' five scoring runners combined for a total time of 2:39:46.38, averaging 31:57.28 on the afternoon.
Between the two races, Edward Waters produced five top-10 individual finishes, led by Chipunov's victory. Tashiro's fourth-place performance gave the Lady Tigers two runners among the women's top five, while Payne and Smith both secured top-10 finishes for the men.
Edward Waters will now turn its attention to its next challenge on Saturday, October 10, when the Tigers and Lady Tigers compete in the Sand Shark Invitational, hosted by USC Beaufort.
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