ST. LEO, FL – The Colorado Christian women's cross country team made history on Saturday afternoon.
With their 22nd place finish at the NCAA National Championship race, the Cougars toed the line at the season's ultimate race for the first time.
Moreover, in the 34-team, 256-runner field the program earned their first All-American
HOW IT HAPPENED: On a warm and humid Saturday morning in central Florida, the Cougars were as high as 20th before concluding the day with their 22nd position with 555 points.
Paige Tack was the team leader throughout the race. In her first-season with the cross country program, Tack inched her way through the crowd to place 19th and earn the first cross country All American honors in school history. At the race's halfway point she was 12 spots out of that All American position as she was in 52nd place. She closed in outstanding fashion as she crossed the finish line in 21:12.1
Alysia Wagner was the second runner for the Cougars as she placed 127th in a time of 22:30.3 over the rolling course. Callie Ketner was the third scorer as she placed 155th by clipping the finish line in 22:53.3 Just behind her was Christy Shuster who registered a time of 22:54.9 to finish as the 158th runner.
Kenzie Hartwig rounded out the top five runners as she ran her final collegiate cross country race in 23:11.5 to tally a 178th place finish.
Michelle Kuipers (23:26.5) and Elizabeth Mattson (23:57.5) completed the team's efforts as they finished 197th and 220th respectively.
RACE NOTES
Adams State won their third straight national title with 59 points (Grand Valley State, 79)
Hannah Becker (GVSU) won the individual title in 22:20.2
RMAC team finish: ASU (1st), Mines (4th), UCCS (7th), Western Colorado (9th), CSU Pueblo (20th)
