The women’s cross country team took home a program-best 15th-place showing in the NAIA championships Saturday.
Sophomore Sara Moore had the best finish among the Stars at 31st place to be one spot shy of all-American status. No. 20-ranked OCU scored 436 points.
The Stars improved from last year’s 16th place.
“The women ran really well to get 15th, having been ranked 20th going in,” Coach Conor Holt said. “We have everyone back next year, so breaking into the top 10 will be the goal. Individually, we all improved spots from a year ago.”
Moore finished the 5,000-meter race in 18 minutes, 37.10 seconds. Junior Rileigh Darby-McClure ran the course in 19:22.30, which was 98th.
Freshman Michaela Werner compiled a 19:29.40, while junior Kaitlin Pontikes contributed a 19:46.00 for Oklahoma City.
Freshman Taylor Harrill supplied the Stars with a 19:47.90, and sophomore Madeline Boehlke a 20:13.40. Senior Raechel Brown added a 20:25.90.
Race conditions included 56-degree temperatures and 15-mph winds under cloudy skies.
“We had great weather and great cross country conditions,” Holt said.
Along with OCU’s second consecutive national title on the men’s side, the Stars finished third place in the combined standings.
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