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By: Will DeBoer

AMERICUS, Ga. – The Columbus State University women's cross country team made it six season-opening wins in a row, cruising to an easy repeat victory at the Georgia Southwestern Remembrance Run in Americus.
 
The Lady Cougars swept the medal stand, placed eight in the top 10, and saw all of their runners finish in the top 15. CSU earned a perfect 15 points in the race, over 30 points lower than second-place Georgia Southwestern (49). Albany State (88) and South Georgia State College (103) rounded out the field.
 
"We came into the meet wanting to use it as a gauge as to where we are at this point in the season," said Lady Cougar head coach J.D. Evilsizer. "We are right where I thought we would be. Our direction is very positive and we look forward to what the next few weeks of continual training will bring."
 
The race was the same as it ever was for senior Rayna Green, who once again saw herself stand atop the field in victory. The McDonough native broke the tape in a time of 19:53.85, shaving nearly half a second off her time from last year and besting the rest of the competition by over five seconds.
 
Kaitlynn Howard followed behind Green with a time of 19:58.90 to claim the silver. Olivia Ivings made it three Lady Cougars in the top three, finishing in 20:49.17.
 
The next minute saw a pack of Lady Cougars. Cassie Ward posted a top-five finish in a time of 21:05.27. Kayla Parsons (21:17.06) followed right behind Ward in sixth, and freshman Sydney Tenney (21:19.56) finished seventh in her first collegiate race. Amber Braswell (ninth, 21:25.84) and Linette Cepeda (10^th, 21:43.66) rounded out the top 10.
 
Rachel Dixon (13^th, 22:10.84) and Jessica Young (15^th, 22:14.73) also ran for CSU.
 
Columbus State will now take two weeks to prepare for the North Georgia Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Dahlonega.