Caitlin Vukorpa | Echo
After winning the Great Lakes Invitational last Saturday with another program-record time, the Taylor women's cross country team is now ranked No. 4 in the NAIA.
"This past meet was iconic for our program," said head coach Quinn White. "The ladies are running with a lot of confidence right now. We are focused and we are working on our team goal, to finish strong."
With a team time of 92:49.63, the Trojans knocked 93 seconds off the previous program record, which was set at the NAIA Pre-Nationals on Oct. 12. With a difference of 1.57 seconds, Taylor claimed a six-point victory over No. 6 Olivet Nazarene, taking home the championship. No. 5 Saint Francis finished in third place, 34 points behind the Trojans.
Freshman Hannah Schroder ran the best race of her career, finishing fifth in the competition, which ultimately secured her spot of the second-best time in Taylor history at 18:10.36. Junior Allison Steinbeck and freshman Anna Meyer also had key performances for the Trojans as both recorded personal-best times and top-20 finishes. With a time of 18:22.45, Steinbeck went on to claim the fourth-best time in program history with her ninth-place finish, shaving 19 seconds off her personal best, which was set at Pre-Nationals. Finishing 18th, with a time of 18:37.86, Meyer also went on to claim a best individual time in TU history at No. 10.
Also finishing strong for the Trojans were junior Elaine Schmeltz (24th), junior Jenna Norris (32nd) freshman Kerigan Riley (36th) and sophomore Jane Hawks (40th).
"Our strategy is to run our race, to use our talents to the maximum, and to be patient, running with confidence," White said.
Recording the two best and three of the top eight team times in program history, Taylor hasn't finished lower than third place in a meet this season. Closing in on the Crossroads League Championship, the team hopes to perform on a national stage.
"I could not be happier for this group," said athletic director Angie Fincannon. "I am so pleased with the way this program has been built. This year has been exciting for them and it has been reflective of the hard work that they've invested and it's reflective of a vision by Coach White."
"If we are blessed to get back to Nationals, we will lean on our past experience of running the course three weeks ago," White said. "The word 'finish' does not mean 'qualify.' It is more than getting ourselves there. If we are blessed to get to Nationals we will be focused on finishing strong."
The Trojans look to receive a national invite on Nov. 9 as they travel to Grace College to compete for the Crossroads League Championship.
Photograph provided by Coach White
