HARRISONBURG, Va.- After opening their 2026 season at Bridgewater, EMU Cross Country took their turn as the home team Friday evening, hosting the newly renamed Roland & Darlene Landes Invitational at their on-campus home course.
Following a delay due to heat and storms, the women's ran their 5k (3.1 miles) in the fading daylight, finishing after sunset. The Royals went up against teams from Southern Virginia, the JMU Club Team, Sweet Briar and Hollins to finish third.
Erin Loker was the first Royal across the finish line in fifth place.
Bayleigh Armstrong of Southern Virginia with a course record time of 17:53.4, boosting the Knights to the team title with a low score of 19 points.
Highlights
- Team Score: 82 points (3rd of 4)
- Loker clocked in at 19:48.9 for 5k to secure her second top-five finish of the week, backing up her win at the Eagles Cross Country Challenge on Tuesday.
- Claire Hurst set a new 5k personal record time of 21:40.6 on her way to placing 12th.
- Sarah Wheeler also ran a new 5k PR, crossing the line in 24:27.2 to finish 21st.
- Eve Detter (34th/30:02.6) and Emilee White (35th/30:11.3) completed the Royals' lineup.
What's Next
The EMU cross country teams will have a couple of weeks to rest and train before they lace up their racing shoes again for the South Region Showdown on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va. The first race is set to begin at 10 a.m.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the EMU cross country program this year, follow EMU Athletics on Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.
