Justyna Mudo of Shorter College claimed the individual crown in a time of 17:30.
San Marcos Claims Women's Team Title, CI 7th
FULL RESULTS
VANCOVER, Wash. – California State-San Marcos won its first ever NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championships team title Saturday at the the Fort Vancouver National Historical Site. CSU-San Marcos won by a narrow margin of three points over second-place Biola (Calif.) (137 points to 140 points). The Cougars took third-place in the 2008 event. The Cascade Collegiate Conference and Concordia (Ore.) University hosted the event for the first time.
The Cougars posted three runners in the top 30 including seventh-place finisher Dallon Williams (18:20). The team title is the first national championship in the 10-year history of the school. In the 30-year history of the event, Cal State-San Marcos becomes the 16th team to win the title and the 12th program to capture the championship for the first time.
Following Biola in third-place is Malone (Ohio) with 163 points and Simon Fraser (B.C.) with 195 points. Defending national champion Azusa Pacific (Calif.) took home fifth-place honors with 199 points.
Justyna Mudy of Shorter (Ga.) was the individual medalist with a finish of 17:30. The junior took third in last year’s event and defeated the next runner, Jacky Kipwambok of Azusa Pacific (Calif.), by 21 seconds. Mudy becomes the first Shorter athlete to win the women’s individual title in the school’s history.
“I am just so happy,” said Mudy, who won the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the 2008 Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. “Last year was my first time being here and I took third. The weather here today was exactly how I wanted it to be and the course was great. I didn’t really know how far ahead of the pack I was because I just wanted to keep looking forward and run fast. I am so proud of my teammates who were with me today.”
The 2009 NAIA Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year honors went to Steve Scott of Cal State-San Marcos. This is the first such award for coach Scott.
Malone (Ohio), Simon Fraser (B.C.), California State-San Marcos and College of Idaho earned the team awards after compiling the lowest combined (men and women) scores at the national championships.
Lowest Combined Team Scores:
1. Malone (Ohio) University – 207 (44 men, 163 women)
2. Simon Fraser (B.C.) – 470 (275 men, 195 women)
3. California State-San Marcos – 578 (441 men, 137 women)
4. College of Idaho – 603 (357 men, 246)
CASCADE COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE SUMMARY
VANCOUVER, Wash. – The College of Idaho women finished a program best seventh place overall at the NAIA National Cross Country Championships held today at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site today.
Led by Stephanie Helm’s 20th place finish in 18:27, the Coyotes posted a score of 246, just ahead of Univ. of British Columbia. Molli Lee-Painter finished 42nd, leading a group of three ‘Yotes that crossed the line within a 20 second span.
Host team Concordia came away with a 12th place finish as a team, led by top runner Alice Taylor in 13th place (18:27). The Cavalier’s 344 points was just behind Milligan College of Tennessee at 338.
Eastern Oregon’s Karlee Coffey was the top finisher from the Cascade Collegiate Conference, crossing the line in 12th at 18:27. Also competing individually were Seena Frantz from Southern Oregon (23rd, 18:47), and Stephanie Hescock from Northwest Christain (147th, 20:13).
Cal State-San Marcos won the team title with 137 points, edging Biola (Calif.) who finished in 2nd with 140.
Justyna Mudy of Shorter College (Ga.) won the individual championship with a time of 17:30.