Dominant at the Belmont Opener

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University women's cross country team got off to a dominant start at the Belmont Opener Friday morning at Percy Warner Park.   

To open the 2023 season the Bruins placed five of the top six runners and claimed first overall in a field of twelve teams. 

 Kaitlyn Vanderkolk earned second place in the field of 114 with a 5K time of 17:46.2. Two Bruins quickly followed — Rachel Soukup clocked 18:05 with Katie Flaherty following at 18:05.5. 

Brooke Garter finished fifth overall with a time of 18:10.3 as Grace Litzinger trailed in sixth place at 18:12.4. Brooke Stromsland and Alexa Fortman were the other Bruins to finish inside the top 20.

Clara Crain in 18:47.8 and Carson Wasemiller in 19:10.6 were the next Belmont runners to finish. Maddy Malczewski and Betsy Gordon rounded out the 5K for the Bruins' distance squad, helping Belmont securing the top spot overall, ahead of Vanderbilt, Southern Illinois, Murray State and others. 

Team Results (Points)
1. Belmont (20)  
2. Vanderbilt (50)
3. Southern Illinois (93)  
4. Murray State (122)  
5. Bellarmine (142)  
6. Lipscomb (147)
7. Western Kentucky (213)  
8. Trevecca (227) 
9. West Georgia (276)  
10. Dalton State (302)  
11. Presbyterian (313)
12. Tennessee State (362)  


Belmont Individual Finishes (Time) 
2. Kaitlyn Vanderkolk (17:46.2)  
3. Rachel Soukup (18:05.0)  
4. Katie Flaherty (18:05.5)  
5. Brooke Garter (18:10.3)  
6. Grace Litzinger (18:12.4)  
12. Brooke Stromsland (18:33.4)  
19. Alexa Fortman (18:39.2)  
23. Clara Crain (18:47.8)  
31. Carson Wasemiller (19:10.6)  
36. Maddy Malczewski (19:21.3)  
68. Betsy Gordon (21:02.9)  
 

Up Next
The Bruins will have two weeks of training before select runners head to Terre Haute, Indiana for the John McNichols Invitational, while others stay local at the Michael Pretorius Invitational hosted by Trevecca on Saturday, September 16th.

Follow Belmont women's cross country on social media - @BelmontXCTF on Twitter, @belmontwxc on Instagram and @BUXCTF on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

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