CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Senior Carly Fuel broke her own school record in the 5K for the second consecutive year at the Royals XC Challenge on Friday evening, returning to McAlpine Creek Park, one of the faster courses in the region, where she established the mark last season.
Fuel finished 23rd in the women's 5K Gold race with a time of 17:58.2, improving on the school record she set at the 2025 Royals XC Challenge.
In the women's 5K Blue race, Hannah Hall led Lander with a 70th-place finish in 21:12.5. Callie McElroy followed in 73rd at 21:19.3, while Madeline Beal placed 87th in 21:52.2.
Faye Brooks finished 94th in 22:08.8, and Kaelynn Larose placed 108th in 23:04.1. Nazareth Godinez crossed the line in 110th at 23:11.0. In the Gold race, Amara Hille finished 131st in 19:53.7, while Kayla Kerkofsky placed 156th in 20:22.5.
Lander finished 13th in the women's Blue team standings with 363 points.
The Bearcats return to the Palmetto State on Oct. 17 at the Upstate Invitational before continuing their preparations for the Peach Belt Conference Championships on Nov. 7 in Macon, Georgia.
