Multiple Pioneers Set Career Marks in Appalachian Challenge
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With two weeks remaining before the Appalachian Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, the Spartanburg Methodist College women's cross country team competed at the 2025 Appalachian Challenge on Friday morning.
"I'm really proud of the effort and progress we saw from our group today," said Head Coach Jannai Maxwell. "The team continues to put in the work each week, and seeing those personal bests shows how far they've come heading into the conference championships."
Junior Polly Addington led the Pioneers with a time of 22:31.74 on the 5k course at Sequoyah Park. The performance shattered her previous personal best by 1:13, earning her a 146th-place finish.
Sophomore Nsimire Bahongwehre followed in 160th with a time of 24:05.84, while junior Anna Altman crossed the line in 24:46.95 for 170th place — a 14-second personal record.
Newcomers Gabby Jarvis (176th, 26:23.60), Elizabeth Byrd (180th, 28:04.40), and Kymbre Griffin (185th, 29:55.66) all set new personal bests by more than two minutes to round out the SMC lineup.
In the team standings, AAC member Milligan captured the team title, while Spartanburg Methodist placed 17th overall. Ellen-Mary Kearney of Milligan took home the individual title in 16:58.31 for a 20-second victory.
