Hedstrom sets ATU record, Golden Suns place third at UCA Open

From ATU Sports

CONWAY – The Arkansas Tech cross country team put together some record-setting performances as the Golden Suns came away from the UCA Open with a third-place finish Saturday morning at Beaverfork Lake Park in Conway, Ark.

The Suns scored a 92 as a team in the 4K race, finishing ahead of conference foes Southern Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist, and Arkansas-Monticello as well as ahead of Division I schools Arkansas-Little Rock and Arkansas-Pine Bluff in the 11-team race.

Cami Hedstrom pitched another head-turning performance, setting the Golden Suns individual record in the 4K with a time of 15:27.5 and coming away with a ninth-place finish. Hedstrom broke the previous record of 15:45.67 set by Eimear O’Brien back in 2005. Hedstrom also got the opportunity to run against her twin sister, Carmen Hedstrom who competes for Arkansas-Fort Smith.

Shannon McLaughlin also cashed in on a 15^th place finish, crossing the finish line in 15:36.1 and setting the Golden Suns’ second-best time in the 4K. Amy Riera came away with 17^th(scoring 16^th) with a time of 15:45.9, setting the fourth-best 4K mark in Tech history.

Logan Edwards and Mary Simmons finished back-to-back in 35^th and 36^th respectively (scoring 32^nd and 33^rd) with times of 16:34 and 16.34.2 to round out the scoring for the Suns.

GOLDEN SUNS TIMES AND PLACES

• Cami Hedstrom – 15:27.5 – 9^th
• Shannon McLaughlin – 15:36.1 – 15^th
• Amy Riera – 15:45.9 – 17^th
• Logan Edwards – 16:34 – 32^nd
• Mary Simmons – 16:34.2 – 33^rd
• Kami Ward – 16:47.6 – 39^th
• Mallory Morris – 17:34.4 – 60^th
• Megan Bradley – 17:39.3 – 62^nd
• Adrianna Simmons – 18:05.2 – 70^th
• Angel Mapp – 18:41.3 – 77^th

NEXT UP

• Next Saturday, the Golden Suns will travel to Joplin, Mo. for the Southern Stampede hosted by Missouri Southern. Start time for the race is slated for 8 a.m.