(Editor's note: RMC Athletics release)
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Rocky Mountain College cross country runner Ruth Chepsat placed in 12th among 341 racers at the NAIA Women's National Championships on Friday, the program's highest individual finish in school history, according to available records.
The Battlin' Bears finished in 11th among 37 teams with a score of 365.
Chepsat ran a time of 18:21.1 in the 5K race earning the junior from Eldoret, Kenya an All-American selection, which notably marks her as Rocky's first women's cross country runner to receive such an honor.
Sydney Little Light finished 55th on a time of 19:02.8. Courtney Hallock crossed 20 seconds later in 19:22.5 to place 88th. Mei-Li Stevens finished in 113th in 19:32.3. Carrie Daniels was 206thf 20:07.9, followed by Larissa Saarel in 246th place in a time of 20:31.3. Carina Bracy placed in 267th crossing in 20:49.7.
Madonna earned its first women's national title with 111 points. Huntington's Hannah Stoffel was named the 2019 individual champion after finishing in first on a time of 17:18.4.
Rocky's men also earned their highest ever finish. The Bears netted 365 points in the 8K race placing 13th among 37 teams.
The Battlin' Bears were led by Jackson Duffey and Isaac Petsch. Finishing within a second of one another, Duffey took 50th in 25:54.3 while Petsch placed 51st in 25:55.2.
Elijah Boyd placed in 72nd on a time of 26:09.1 while teammate Jackson Wilson finished nearby in 74th on a time of 26:10.2. George Beddow took 190th on a time of 27:04.7. Joseph Vanden Bos finished in 253rd on a time of 27:46.2 while Keegan Council took 275th after running a time of 28:06.1.
Lewis-Clark State turned in the highest Frontier Conference finish in third place with 187 points. Cole Olsen took fourth individually in a time of 24:55.9
Oklahoma City University earned the 2019 national title after finishing in first with a team score of 110. It is the fifth year that the program has won the national title. The Stars' Mark Shaw was named the individual champion with the top time of 24:39.5.
