By After a successful season last year with a Frontier Conference Championship win and a 22nd-place finish at the NAIA Championship in Tallahassee, Fla., the women’s cross country team had their first meet for the 2023 season on Friday, Sept. 1.
The Conference Preview was hosted by the University of Providence, where the Saints took home the win with seven individual placings above 15th.
“As the three-time defending conference champions, heading into the conference preview, we were well aware that we had a target on our backs,” said Anna Terry, a first-year business major from Chinook, Mont.
“With the departure of a group of highly competitive seniors, our team is considerably younger this year. Nevertheless, I couldn’t be prouder of our performance. We showed up and did what we needed to do, and I can’t wait to see what this team can accomplish this season.” said Terry.
“What prepared me for this first successful meet, I would say I just trusted my training,” said Isabelle Ruff, a first-year nursing major from Clayton, Calif. “Having my teammates push me through the race helped me stay mentally strong.”
Ruff placed 2nd overall at the meet.
“We graduated a group last year on the women’s side that were instrumental in building the program and were top leaders and performers over their time here,” said head coach Shannon Flynn. “So it is fun to see new individuals growing and stepping into those roles. We’re very excited about our freshman group and proud of how they’re diving in right away. It means the future is really bright.”
The Fighting Saints welcomed seven first years to the team, bringing them to a total of 16 runners. Included in this number is their sole returning veteran senior, Nicole Morgen, a mathematics major from Bend, Ore.
After placing 12th at the Frontier Cross Country Championship last November and receiving a personal best at the NAIA Cross Country Championship, Morgen placed 13th at the opening meet.
The results of the Fighting Saints’ successful first meet can be found on our Carroll College webpage.
