The men’s and women’s cross country team traveled to Charlotte, N.C. on Nov. 21 to compete in the NAIA Cross Country National Championship. Senior Kellian Hunt finished first out of all the women athletes and led the women’s team to a third place team finish. The men finished 25th, led by senior Kevin Horchler who finished seventh.
IN THE TOP 20
Three athletes from Biola women’s cross country team finished in the top 20, and earned All-American honors. Senior Anika Gasner finished 12th with an overall time of 17:53.8, and was followed by junior Lyndee Dawson, who finished 16th with her time of 17:56.3. Hunt earned her third All-American honor in this race while Gasner and Dawson both earned their first.
“I couldn't have asked for a better close to my cross country career here at Biola,” Hunt said. “A PR, an individual title, and my team on the podium. It is bittersweet though since I have enjoyed my time here so much. My teammates and coaches have become my family, and they have shaped my life.”
ULTIMATE GOAL
The third place team finish matched the result of the 2013 nationals for Biola. Hunt earned her first All-American honors in that meet when she finished 23rd her sophomore year and ran more than a minute slower. Last season they finished 21st overall.
“Ever since my first nationals as a freshman, winning a National race has been my ultimate goal,” Hunt said. “It is an experience that I will cherish forever because it’s something I’ve been working toward all these years and months.”
Only one other Biola women’s cross country athlete ever took first in nationals and that was Elizabeth Onyambu in 1993. Onyambu finished the race in 17:35, more than 13 seconds slower than Hunt’s time of 17:16.7.
SUCCESSFUL FINISH
The men’s team’s 25th place finish was the first time the men earned a team score since 2011 when they placed 26th. Horchler’s seventh place finish led the team and was followed by the second fastest Eagle, sophomore Wes Noyes who finished 164th with a time of 26:41.2.
In head coach Sean Henning’s first year at the helm, both cross country teams showed improvement. Along with the successful finish at nationals that included a podium finish for the women, the women’s team won the Golden State Athletic Conference Championship Tournament and both Hunt and Horchler finished first in that tournament.
