MONTEVALLO, AL - The Auburn University at Montgomery women's cross country team raced to its second team victory since moving to the NCAA Division II level, winning the 2026 Montevallo Falcon Classic Friday evening at the UM Track and Field/Lacrosse Stadium.
The Warhawks totaled 27 points to finish atop a 10-team field featuring 97 individual runners, with Chloe Helms leading the way by claiming the individual title.
COACH THOMPSON'S COMMENTS
"This was a dominant win for the women, and this made a statement. I am so proud of them, and the women that they are."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Helms powered to the top of the women's 5K field with a winning time of 18:21.20, shaving more than 10 seconds off her previous 18:32.00 set last week at the Queen City Invite. The performance marked another significant jump for the junior and moved her to No. 2 on AUM's all-time top-10 list as well as earning a collegiate best time.
Emma McGee followed with a third-place finish (18:59.50), cutting nearly a minute and a half off her previous mark of 20:28.50 from the Queen City Invite. The performance marked a season best for McGee.
Freshmen Lena Parker and Natalie Wiram continued AUM's strong showing, finishing sixth and eighth, respectively. Parker posted a personal-best 19:08.40, improving by more than 25 seconds from her previous time of 19:34.00, while Wiram crossed in 19:13.50 after previously running 19:48.50.
Laila Cooper rounded out the Warhawks' scoring five with a ninth-place finish in 19:19.00, recording another major personal best after opening the season at 20:18.50. With Cooper's finish, all five of AUM's scorers placed inside the top 10.
Adley Burkes added a top-15 performance for the Warhawks, finishing 13th in 19:41.00 for a season-best mark. Robertsdale, Alabama, native Ryan McGilvray also turned in a significant collegiate best, crossing 20th in 20:00.10 and improving on her previous mark of 20:14.90.
Competing in her third season with the Warhawks, Railey Prins, finished 34th in 20:39.10, while junior Kyndal Little placed 35th in 20:41.20 in her third appearance at the Montevallo Falcon Classic.
The victory marked AUM's second team win since making the move to Division II. The Warhawks previously captured the 2021 Falcon Classic, which marked the program's first team victory at the Division II level.
AUM's 27 points put the Warhawks comfortably ahead of the field, with Troy finishing second with 66 points and host Montevallo placing third with 76.
The Warhawks also finished ahead of fellow Gulf South Conference programs, Valdosta State and Montevallo, as well as Division I programs, Troy and Alabama State.
Up Next
AUM will return to action for the 25th annual Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park on Saturday, Oct. 3 in Louisville, Kentucky. Race times will be announced closer to the event.
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2026 Montevallo Falcon Classic
UM Track and Field/Lacrosse Stadium
Women's 5k
1. Auburn University at Montgomery (27 Points)
Individual Results
1. Chloe Helms 18:21.20
3. Emma McGee 18:59.50
6. Lena Parker 19:08.40
8. Natalie Wiram 19:13.50
9. Laila Cooper 19:19.00
13. Adley Burkes 19:41.00
20. Ryan McGilvray 20:00.10
34. Railey Prins 20:39.10
35. Kyndal Little 20:41.20
#WeAreAUM
For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
