The Bruins came into Warsaw, Indiana and captured National Runner-Up in the NCCAA Nationals 5k Race.
"Sometimes sports don't go the way we want," Head Coach Ken Roach said, "but it's these moments that teach us the most. We learn how to handle adversity, how to come back stronger, and how to grow."
As the race got started, it was a close between the Bruins and the Polars from Crown College. In tough conditions, the Bruins remained poised and had a hard-fought race finishing with three top 10 finishers. Senior Joy Hast led the way for the Bruins as she has all season long finishing 6th overall with a time of 20:15 which captured her first All-American finish. Senior Joanna Lain came next for the Bruins at 8th overall with a time of 20:42. Lain is now a three-time All-American! Sophomore standout Kristen Dodds crossed the finish line behind Lain at 9th overall with a final time of 21:09 earning her first All-American honor. To close out the top five for the Bruins were the Jones sisters. Lauren Jones and Courtney Jones crossed the finish line at nearly the same time of 21:36 with just a fraction of second separating them. They finished 12th and 13th overall. Hannah Cohen, Ainsley Zimmerman, Naomi Mendoza, Cora Gagne, and Elizabeth Farley rounded out the Bruins' efforts all finishing inside the top 45.
"These ladies raced with unity today and put everything they had on the course," Coach Roach said. "We're a family here so we win together and we lose together and grow together. This experience will bind us closer."
While the cross country season comes to a close, most of these runners can be found on the track soon as the first indoor track meet is less than a month away!
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