
Pirate Women Third, Men Fourth at Elon’s Friday Night Lights Opener
August 29, 2025 | Cross Country
ELON, N.C. – The East Carolina cross country team opened its 2025 season at Elon's Friday Night Lights meet on Friday evening. Abrielle Schweitzer and Alex Sawyer were the top performing woman and man with a pair of second-place finishes.
The Pirate women finished third overall in the meet, led by Schweitzer's breakout performance in second place overall. The junior finished the 4K race with a time of 13:44.0, exactly one minute faster than she ran on the same course in 2023. She was joined in the top 10 by Kaylee McCullough in eighth with a time of 14:04.4. Katrina Ford, Erin Pope and Bella Wood rounded out the scoring lineup for ECU.
Elon (27 points) took the team win in the 11-team field with Davidson (72 points) in second.
On the men's side it was a fourth-place showing as Sawyer raced his way to a second-place overall finish of his own with a time of 18:25.6 on the 6K course. He was joined in the top 20 by Elliott Kleckner (15th) and Judah Lacroix (20th) while Will Palopoli and Aidan Herman rounded out the scoring lineup.
High Point (33 points) took the win on the men's side with Coastal Carolina and Davidson following with 74 and 101 points, respectively.
Full ECU Results
Women – Third, 102 points
2. Abrielle Schweitzer – 13:44.0
8. Kaylee McCullough – 14:04.4
21. Katrina Ford – 14:31.7
36. Erin Pope – 14:58.3
46. Bella Wood – 15:17.7
49. Kiley Mann – 15:38.7
57. Ava Elliott – 15:42.0
69. Eliza Greengrass – 16:10.1
78. Brianna Winsett – 16:29.3
Men – Fourth, 124 points
2. Alex Sawyer – 18:25.6
15. Elliott Kleckner – 18:51.9
20. Judah Lacroix – 18:59.8
38. Will Palopoli – 19:37.9
63. Aidan Herman – 20:31.9
The Pirate women finished third overall in the meet, led by Schweitzer's breakout performance in second place overall. The junior finished the 4K race with a time of 13:44.0, exactly one minute faster than she ran on the same course in 2023. She was joined in the top 10 by Kaylee McCullough in eighth with a time of 14:04.4. Katrina Ford, Erin Pope and Bella Wood rounded out the scoring lineup for ECU.
Elon (27 points) took the team win in the 11-team field with Davidson (72 points) in second.
On the men's side it was a fourth-place showing as Sawyer raced his way to a second-place overall finish of his own with a time of 18:25.6 on the 6K course. He was joined in the top 20 by Elliott Kleckner (15th) and Judah Lacroix (20th) while Will Palopoli and Aidan Herman rounded out the scoring lineup.
High Point (33 points) took the win on the men's side with Coastal Carolina and Davidson following with 74 and 101 points, respectively.
Full ECU Results
Women – Third, 102 points
2. Abrielle Schweitzer – 13:44.0
8. Kaylee McCullough – 14:04.4
21. Katrina Ford – 14:31.7
36. Erin Pope – 14:58.3
46. Bella Wood – 15:17.7
49. Kiley Mann – 15:38.7
57. Ava Elliott – 15:42.0
69. Eliza Greengrass – 16:10.1
78. Brianna Winsett – 16:29.3
Men – Fourth, 124 points
2. Alex Sawyer – 18:25.6
15. Elliott Kleckner – 18:51.9
20. Judah Lacroix – 18:59.8
38. Will Palopoli – 19:37.9
63. Aidan Herman – 20:31.9
Players Mentioned
ECU Football Coach Blake Harrell Presser Army
Monday, September 22
ECU Post-Game Interviews (Sept. 20, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
09/16/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, September 16
ECU Head Football Coach Blake Harrell Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 15, 2025)
Monday, September 15