FORT WORTH, Texas — Freshman LILY BURTON continued her remarkable start to her collegiate career Saturday, breaking her own St. Edward's women's cross country 5K record with a time of 17:40.2 to lead the Hilltoppers to a 10th-place finish at the DBU Old Glory Gallop.
Burton finished 19th overall and 18th among scoring runners in a field featuring more than 40 teams, shaving 19.5 seconds off the school record she established two weeks earlier at the Chile Pepper Festival. The performance marked her third consecutive meet leading the Hilltoppers and continued a rapid progression that has seen her improve nearly a full minute since running 18:36.5 at the Texas A&M Invitational on Sept. 11.
Fellow freshman ABIGAIL PINON continued to emerge alongside Burton, crossing the finish line in 17:57.7 to finish 32nd overall and 31st among scoring runners. Pinon improved her previous best of 18:02.3 from Chile Pepper by 4.6 seconds, joining Burton as the only two women in the St. Edward's record book to break 18 minutes in the 5K.
The two freshmen now own the three fastest recorded 5K performances in program history, all achieved over the past two meets. Their performances have surpassed the previous school record of 18:14.2 set by MIA RIVERA at the 2025 Texas A&M Invitational.
St. Edward's also placed ahead of several Lone Star Conference opponents, including Cameron, Texas A&M International, UT Permian Basin's fellow conference competitors represented in the field, Lubbock Christian and Eastern New Mexico.
Junior Adriana Rodriguez finished third for St. Edward's in 18:42.9, placing 73rd overall. Rodriguez has provided a steady veteran presence for a young lineup and finished within 2.1 seconds of her performance at Chile Pepper.
Junior VICTORIA HOYT followed in 18:50.6, placing 89th overall and improving 8.5 seconds from her previous race. Freshman EMMELINE SHAW completed the scoring five in 18:54.8, giving the Hilltoppers five runners under 19 minutes for the second consecutive meet.
The team's scoring average of 18:25 was nearly identical to its 18:24 average at Chile Pepper, reflecting consistency across the lineup despite changes in the scoring order. Saturday also marked a change in the supporting cast, with Hoyt moving into the fourth scoring position.
Freshman AVA BRILEY finished sixth for St. Edward's in 19:37.3, followed by freshman Julia Gainar in 20:08.9.
West Texas A&M won the team championship with 80 points, followed by East Central with 91 and host Dallas Baptist with 106. East Central's Joyce Kemboi won the individual title in 16:26.5.
The Hilltoppers now turn their attention to the Lone Star Conference Championships on Nov. 7 in Lubbock, where the development of Burton and Pinon at the front of the lineup gives St. Edward's a promising foundation heading into the postseason.
