MISENHEIMER, N.C. — Averett University cross country started its season with solid performances against stiff competition at the Pfeiffer University Invitational.

The women's team kicked off the season's activity with a 5K event, which finished with the Cougars placing sixth out of 12 entries. Averett came home ahead of a number of fellow Division III competitors, and kept within reach of a number of Division I and Division II entries into the invitational. Junior Gabrielle Griffin shined at the head of the pack for the Cougars, picking up right where she left off in the previous season. Griffin crossed the finish line in eighth-place with a personal best time of 20:13.8. Senior Alheli Ramos-Garcia followed behind for Averett, coming away with a 24th-place finish thanks to her 22:47.7 effort. Senior Kailey Gates rounded out the top three Cougars' finishers with a time of 23:31.6, enough to earn a 32nd-place finish. Averett's women's team scored 167 team points en route to a sixth-place finish, as Winthrop University took the win with 32 team points.

The men's team took to the starting blocks for the second race of the evening, an 8K trek through the North Carolina countryside. Junior Azael Quintero led the Cougars in the men's race, running his way to a 58th-place finish with a time of 32:07.4. Freshman Brett Foley ran well in his collegiate debut, posting a time of 36:36.8 and an 80th-place finish. Junior Ke'Vannio Smith crossed the line in 89th-place, with a time of 39:45.0, to close out the top performers from the men's team. Pfeiffer University wrapped up the team win with 17 points as Averett did not register a team score on the men's side.

Averett cross country returns to action on Sept. 27 for the Central Children's Home Cross Country FestIval in Oxford, North Carolina.