University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Duel in the Valley
Cross Country Opens 2026 Season with Duel in the Valley Meet
09.04.2026 | Cross Country
BRYSON CITY, N.C. - The UNC Asheville cross country program opened its 2026 season with the Duel in the Valley meet against Western Carolina on Friday (Sept. 4). A total of 21 Bulldogs competed, with eight Bulldogs making their collegiate debuts around the Kituwah Mound. The women raced 3k, and the men raced 6k around the 1,500m gravel loop.
Asheville's women's team secured an 18-point victory, finishing with 18 points to Western Carolina's 36. On the men's side, Western Carolina earned the victory with 22 points, while Asheville finished with 35.
The women took to the course first, working together as a pack on the first lap before the field spread out into a fast finish on the second and final lap. Asheville made a clean sweep with Adela Konirova, Isabel Richardson, and Nikole Baikova going 1,2, and 3. Konirova clocked the winning time of 10:37.13 in her collegiate debut for the Bulldogs.
The men's race stretched out after two laps, with Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland taking the lead for Asheville early and holding it, finishing in a time of 19:19.85 as the fastest male Bulldog of the day. He was followed by freshman Macon Smith, who clocked 19:25.13 in his collegiate debut.
Women's results
Adela Konirova - 10:37.13Isabel Richardson - 10:37.45
Nikole Baikova - 10:40.28
Marika Dickel - 10:49.74
Riley Humphries - 11:07.21
Ella Moore - 11:15.82
Lauren Sochia - 11:43.82
Addi Corl - 11:59.48
Men's results
Tadiyos Sloan-Westmoreland - 19:19.85Macon Smith - 19:25.13
Luke Vannoy - 19:31.10
Bela Diettrich - 19:31.10
Lance Surles - 19:46.25
Evan Rounds - 19:59.25
Jacoby Ennis - 20:03.92
Craig Webb - 20:06.52
Asher Roach - 20:11.63
Lenny Riebe - 20:23.35
Augustus Simmons - 20:31.74
Hank Neal - 20:59.70
Bennett Moreno - 21:19.56
Asheville returns to action on Sept. 13 at the Southeast Regional Kick-Off, hosted by USC Upstate.
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