CORONA, Calif. – The LMU women's cross country team opened its season with a fourth-place finish at the Mark Covert Classic on Saturday, racing a flat, well-conditioned grass course at Green River Golf Club in Corona, Calif.

The Lions posted 112 points in the nine-team field, finishing behind Cal State Fullerton (35), Biola (49) and Pomona-Pitzer (57) over the 6K distance.

"Really proud of the whole squad today," LMU head coach Chloe Curtis said. "We executed our plan of getting out aggressively and working together throughout the race in packs."

Senior Rylee Guinn paced LMU with a seventh-place finish in 21:04.3, a personal best that now ranks 16th on the program's all-time list. Junior Ava Boyd was right behind her in eighth at 21:06.8, also a PR and the 17th-fastest time in school history.

Senior Tessa Kline was next among the Lions' scorers, taking 31st in 21:47.5, also a personal best. Freshman Payton Wagner (43rd, 22:02.7) and senior Emma Ronan (50th, 22:13.3) completed LMU's scoring five, with Ronan also setting a PR. Freshman Jeevut Sajjan (51st, 22:14.8) and senior Ruby Tiburcio (54th, 22:18.4) served as displacers, with Tiburcio adding another personal best.

"Our seniors really showed out today, which was awesome to see, and we had some great LMU debuts from our freshmen and transfers," Curtis said.

Senior Alexandra Zanon (56th, 22:25.3), sophomore Collette Heil (65th, 22:48.1), senior Kasia Holland (66th, 22:53.8), junior Hannah Neff (69th, 23:04.7), freshman Emma Beedon (73rd, 23:19.4) and sophomore Anna Bridges (79th, 23:26.8) also competed for the Lions, with Heil, Holland and Bridges all posting personal bests.

"This was a great start to the season, and I can't wait to see what this group can accomplish together," Curtis said.

The Lions return to action September 18 at the Saint Mary's College Invitational.