FLORENCE, Ala. – The AUM women's cross country team opened the 2025 campaign on Friday, turning in a fourth-place finish at the UNA Invitational. The meet was hosted by the University of North Alabama at McFarland Park and featured 13 teams and 112 athletes.

The Warhawks produced a combined team time of 1:37:31 in the 5K race, just three seconds away from meet champion West Florida.

Sophomore Emma McGee took home eighth place as AUM's top individual, beginning the year with a new career-best time of 18:46.4. Teammate Adley Burkes gave the Warhawks a pair of top 20 finishers, as Burkes kicked off her junior year with a time of 19:19.1.

McKenzie David (19:26.4, 23rd), Railey Prins (19:37.5, 26th) and Ryan McGilvray (20:22.4, 38th) all ended the day in top 40, with sisters Kyndal Little (20:24.2, 39th) and Abby Little (21:09.5, 51st) rounding out the scoring for AUM.

"I was really happy for them to wash the taste of last season," said Head Coach Ryan Thompson. "They proved today that they are a talented group of women."

AUM's fourth-place finish is the team's highest mark in any meet since the 2022 season. The Warhawks are back in action next Friday, when they make the quick trip to Montevallo to take part in the Falcon Classic Twilight.

Complete race results here: UNA Invitational