Geneseo’s Lady Leafs opened the cross country season with an individual victory and a runner-up team finish Monday, Aug. 24, at the Moline Early Season Opener at Empire Park in Hampton.

Senior Brooklyn Smith led the way, winning the varsity 3-mile race in 18:46.

Junior Evelyn DeBaene joined her near the front of the field, placing third overall in 19:27, a personal-best performance.

The strong finishes continued through Geneseo’s scoring lineup. Junior Alivia Brown placed 11th in 21:19, sophomore Charlize Wachtel was 18th in 21:57, and senior Ayla Schultz finished 27th in 22:34.

Those five performances gave the Lady Leafs 60 points and second place in the nine-team field.

Geneseo also received finishes from Genevieve Talley in 25:52, Stella Allison in 26:24, Zania Sefton in 27:50, Sofia Encabo-Alonso in 31:57, Hanna Pirog in 32:29, Keely Henry in 33:04, Baylen Poffenberger in 33:59 and Tiffany Helton in 36:46.

Several Lady Leafs recorded personal-best times at the opener. DeBaene, Talley, Sefton, Encabo-Alonso, Pirog, Henry, Poffenberger and Helton were each listed with personal bests in the official results.

Geneseo finished the day with two runners in the top three, three in the top 11 and four in the top 20, providing a strong start to the season for the Lady Leafs.

Geneseo Results

1. Brooklyn Smith — 18:46
3. Evelyn DeBaene — 19:27 (PB)
11. Alivia Brown — 21:19
18. Charlize Wachtel — 21:57
27. Ayla Schultz — 22:34
Genevieve Talley — 25:52 (PB)
Stella Allison — 26:24
Zania Sefton — 27:50 (PB)
Sofia Encabo-Alonso — 31:57 (PB)
Hanna Pirog — 32:29 (PB)
Keely Henry — 33:04 (PB)
Baylen Poffenberger — 33:59 (PB)
Tiffany Helton — 36:46 (PB)