The UNA cross country team ran at the Tennessee Tech Invitational in Cookeville, Tenn., Oct. 5, placing fourth overall in men’s and third overall in women’s on the Southern Hills Golf Course.

UNA’s Fabian Cortez, a sophomore who placed 27th in the men’s 8K, and Olivia Brady, a freshman who placed 10th in the women’s 5K, were the leaders for UNA.

“It was a tough course, probably the toughest I’ve ever ran,” said Roger Good, a junior. “But it was nice to see the team compete hard and finish in the places we did.”

Cortez finished at 29:36:13 for 27th place with Zeke Nichols, a senior, placing close behind him in 33rd and Good in 36th place.

The rest of the men’s team followed closely, giving Clay Oden 37th place and Colby Phillips 39th.

The UNA men’s team finished up with Matthew Cooper (34:22:39) giving the UNA men’s team the fourth place spot with an overall score of 117, making them the highest ranked Division II team.

The UNA women’s team stuck close together, Brady leading her teammates by only a few spots.

She was followed closely by Victoria Acocella, (junior, 13th); Kenley Crouch (freshman, 15th) and Katherine Steinman (sophomore, 17th).

The rest of the girls finished within four minutes of Brady.

“It was not necessarily pack running, but (the girls were) definitely close to each other,” Cooper said. “When a few girls finish within 45 seconds of each other in a 5K, they’re all pretty close together.”

The women’s team scored an overall 74 points to secure a third-place win.

UNA’s next cross country meet is Oct. 13 at the Alabama Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa