Cross country had a successful go at the season-openers at the 16th annual Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic. This event, hosted by Christian Brothers University, saw the men’s team finish fifth out of 19 teams and the women’s team finish 10th out of 21 teams. Toler Freyaldenhoven came in 10th place with a time of 20:40, finishing first in the men’s four mile. Elise Moix had the fastest time of the women’s 3.1 mile, coming in at 19:53. The Lynx’s next event will be a home race—hosted here by Rhodes College at Shelby Farms Park.

The Lynx are predicted to have a successful season—especially the men’s cross country team, which was voted in the top 10 nationally in the NCAA Division III Pre-Season Coaches Poll. This poll ranks Rhodes at the 10th position nationally—a poll led by North Central (Ill.) This ranking is due, in part, to the fact that Rhodes is returning 4 of its 5 head runners in the fall season. The women’s cross country team remains as the number one seed in the women’s Division III Pre-Season Coaches Poll.  Their previous year’s run at nationals was a success as well and many of the players now hope for another chance to show their talent at this year’s tournament.