OXFORD, N.C. — Averett University cross country excelled in its trip to the Central Children's Home Cross Country Festival.

The Cougars earned victories in both of the day's competitions, with junior Gabrielle Griffin winning on the women's side and junior Azael Quintero picking up the win in the men's race.

Averett's women ran in a 6K to get collegiate competition underway. Griffin paced the Cougars and the field, finishing in first-place by nearly a minute with a time of 26:26.20. Senior Alheli Ramos-Garcia crossed the line in second with a time of 27:25.71, and sophomore Sara Beth Garrett rounded out Averett's top finishers with a fourth-place effort.

The men's 8K finished with a Cougar at the front of the pack just as the women's race had. Quintero raced to his gold medal result with a time of 34:11.23, clearing his nearest competitor by over a minute. Freshman Brett Foley also grabbed a podium spot, finishing with a time of 37:44.04 to earn third-place. Junior Ke'Vannio Smith rounded out Averett's top performers with a time of 43:16.59 to secure a fifth-place finish.

Averett cross country hits the track next for the Livingstone College Invitational on Oct. 10 at 10 a.m.