EARLYSVILLE, Va. – The Gallaudet University women's cross country team was back in action Saturday morning at the South Region Preview hosted by the University of Lynchburg. The Bison raced through partly cloudy conditions at Panorama Farms in their largest and most competitive meet of the season, which featured 128 finishers and 16 scoring teams, including many of the top teams from the South Region.

Batten University's Ester Zar won the 6-kilometer race with a time of 21 minutes, 58.8 seconds. Batten University was formerly known as Virginia Wesleyan University.

First-year runner Xue Atwood (Twin Falls, Idaho) was the first Bison to complete the course as she finished 118th overall in 38:07.5.

Sophomore Jala Furdge (Brandon, Miss.) was the second Bison to cross the finish line. Furdge posted a time of 38:43.8 to finish 120th overall, just behind Atwood. First-year runner Dev Sklar (Brooklyn, N.Y.) was next for Gallaudet with a time of 42:06.0 to place 123rd.

Junior Ashley Morales-Juan (Oklahoma City, Okla.) finished 125th overall with a time of 45:15.0. First-year runner Savannah Kardash (Wilmington, Del.) was Gallaudet's fifth entrant but did not finish the race.

Saint Francis (Pa.), which transitioned from Division I to Division III this academic year, won the meet with 79 points. Southern Virginia University edged host Lynchburg for second place as the Knights tallied 103 points, one ahead of the Hornets (104). Gallaudet did not record a team score with four runners completing the race.

The meet gave the Bison an early look at Panorama Farms, which will host the NCAA Division III South Regional on Nov. 14.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet is off next weekend before beginning the month of October on Maryland's Eastern Shore at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury University at WinterPlace Park on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 2:30 p.m.