The UCA women’s and men’s cross country teams outran the competition in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships on Nov. 1 with the women’s team ranking third overall and the men’s team ranking sixth.
The championship was held in Jacksonville, Florida, where runners from 12 teams in the ASUN conference competed.
The women’s team improved from last season’s fifth-place finish to snag a third-place ranking. Sophomore Madeline Hill led the team, taking 11th place with a time of 17:21.7.
Senior Ali Nachtigal came in 14th place with a time of 17:31.9. Freshman Kayleigh Wagnon finished 18th place with a time of 17:36.5. Junior Sequoya Prentice came in 24th with a time of 17:48.6 with senior Felisa Sahieb not far behind with a 25th place ranking, finishing at 17:50.5.
Senior Anna Bommes finished at 18:08.4, senior Emma Selph finished at 18:48.1 and freshman Brooklyn Nicholson finished at 19:021.
Hill, Nachtigal and Wagnon claimed All-ASUN spots with their performances.
Coach Josey Weaver said this means they are some of the best individuals in the conference.
Nachtigal said she left her last cross-country conference meet with “nothing but joy and gratitude” in her heart.
“I have been incredibly blessed with the ability to run, to be a part of such an amazing team, and to run for the most deserving coaches, who I know are going to skyrocket our XCTF program,” she said.
Nachtigal said attitude and purpose are what contribute to the team’s success.
“When you discover your ‘why’ behind what you do, and pair that motivation with a culture of positivity, encouragement, and lightheartedness, you will succeed where others find it hard to,” she said.
Weaver said, “I’m very happy with our Women’s program jumping from 5th place a year ago to 3rd place this year.”
Nachtigal said she is proud of the effort she has put into this season.
“Although not every outcome matches my expectation, I take pride in knowing that I give every race my absolute all,” Nachtigal said. “Regardless of the result, I can always walk away content knowing there was nothing else I could’ve done because I gave it the best I possibly could on that given day.”
For the men’s team, senior Pete Johnson placed 21st with a time of 24:25.6. Senior Jack Dingman finished 30th with a time of 24:50.0. Freshman Trae Baker came in at 25:24, followed by junior Mason Bickle at 25:40.1. Senior Carlos Hernandez finished at 25:49.8, trailed by freshman Samuel Morales’s 25:59.6. Senior Tim Haughton finished his run at 26:46.8. Senior Gavin Frick came in at 27:01.2, followed closely by senior Bresner Austin’s 27:11.4 and freshman William Hill’s 27:13.9.
“Our men and women have progressed all year long. It’s been very rewarding and satisfying to watch this group run hard for one another,” Weaver said.
The Bears will compete again in the NCAA South Central Regional on Nov. 15.
“I expect to see our best effort of the year,” Weaver said. “We will get to see how our program stacks up against some of the nation’s best.”