CAMDEN, S.C. – Coastal Carolina's Molly Jones took first-place in the women's 5k race, while Tomas Duncan placed third in the men's 5k meet to lead both the women's and men's teams to top-five team finishes on Saturday at the 2022 Carolina Challenge in Camden, S.C.
 
The women's team finished third overall in the team standings with a total of 77 points, placing behind host South Carolina (22) and SCAD Savannah (68). The men's team finished second overall with 56 points, seven points behind the men's team champions in SCAD Savannah with 49 points.
 
Jones crossed the finish line first in the women's 5k event, as she recorded a meet-best time of 18:22.76 on Saturday to help lead the Chanticleers to a third-place team finish. Her time was almost a full 30 seconds faster than the runner-up finisher.
 
Also posting a top 10 finish in the season-opening meet was newcomer Ellie Wolski with a seventh-place finish with her time of 19:42.51. Finishing in 12th overall was senior Ashley Rulison with a time of 20:24.41.
 
Making their CCU debuts, freshman Kylee Denver placed 26th overall with her time of 21:57.84, transfer Tiarra Smith finished 40th with her time of 24:07.29, and first-year Chant Taylor Houston finished 52nd with a time of 25:19.45.
 
Duncan paced the men's team with his third-place time of 16:56.24, while fellow sophomore Trey Kraimer recorded a time of 17:04.97 in his first race as a Chant to finish eighth overall.
 
Crossing the finish line in 13th overall for the Chants was freshman Camren Stamp with his time of 18:17.59, while both Hunter White and Ethan Blackwelder followed close behind with times of 18:20.16 and 19:02.28 to place 15th and 23rd, respectively.
 
The Chanticleers will return to competition in two weeks, as CCU will take part in the Firetower Project Run hosted by Appalachian State on Friday, Sept. 16, in Boone, N.C.
 
For complete coverage of CCU Cross Country and Track & Field, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalTFXC (Twitter), @GoCCUsports (Instagram), and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at www.GoCCUsports.com.