WACO, Texas – Redshirt freshman TaBaris Earnest and senior Erica Burgess led the way for the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith cross country teams on Friday night during the season-opening Baylor Bears Twilight Invitational.

            The Lions finished 10^th in the mostly NCAA Division I meet, while the Lady Lions finished 11^th.

            Earnest, who is from Conway, Ark., finished 59^th overall, covering the 6k course in 20:54.4. Freshman Kolby Jones of Marion, Ark., finished 76^th (21:37.7), sophomore Sean Geraghty of Fort Smith finished 90^th (24:31.3), freshman Josh McDonald of Muldrow, Okla., finished 96^th (27:19.8), freshman Blake Branham of Hackett, Ark., finished 97^th (31:35), sophomore Tyler Davis of Charleston, Ark., finished 98^th (34:43.1) and sophomore Josh Garcia of Booneville, Ark., finished 99^th (36:43.7).

            Senior Amos Sang of Abilene Christian won the event with a time of 18:18.5, leading his team to a runner-up finish behind host Baylor.

            Burgess, who is from Converse, Texas, finished 81^st overall, covering the 4k course in 18:08.6. Sophomore Jackie Bowen of Rogers, Ark., finished 82^nd (18:16), freshman Pamela Chavez of Van Buren, Ark., finished 87^th (19:05.2), junior Monica Burgess of Converse, Texas, finished 96^th (21:44.6), freshman Debra Silva of Muldrow, Okla., finished 97^th (22:02.9), sophomore Carter Honea of Fort Smith finished 98^th (22:48.5) and sophomore Nancy Guillen of Booneville, Ark., finished 99^th (27:00).

            Junior Cate Westonhover of Baylor won the event with a time of 13:59.7, leading the Lady Bears to the win.