CAMDEN, S.C. – Gardner-Webb Cross Country competed in their first competition of the 2022 fall season on Saturday morning at the Carolina Challenge. Freshman, Dylan Phillips ran a 16:45 in the men's 5K to finish second overall in the event with the three freshmen for the women's team being the first across the line for GWU.
 
The men finished fourth overall at the event with Phillips leading the team in his debut. Ryan Morita came across the nine in 11^th at 18:13 with Joe Waller close behind in 19^th at 18:25. Mark Mellon and Garry Ankrom anchored the team coming across in 34^th at 20:02 and 45^th in 22:54. Cole Ray had a 23:28 and John Marsh at 24:44.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs women's team ended the event in 5^th place. Freshman, Jessica Perriello led the team with a 20:36 in her debut with a 16^th-place finish. The next two across the line for GWU were also freshmen, Julia Reinboth and Bella Drewek. Reinboth was 25^th at 21:48 and Drewek was 28^th at 22:09. Jennifer Escalera was next at 23:11, Teryn Bour at 23:27, and Brooklyn Tretter at 24:31.
 
Runnin' Bulldogs have their next at Winthrop on September 17 with a start scheduled for 9:00 a.m. The men will run their first 8K of the year with the women competing in a 5K.