Northwestern College posted its best finish since 2007 today’s NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Championship run at the Fort Vancouver Historic Site in Vancouver, Wash.
Ranked 19th heading into Saturday’s championship, Northwestern finished 13th among the 36 teams competing, ahead of five teams that were ranked ahead of them in the final poll (Southern Oregon-10, Corban-18, Carroll-9, Shawnee State-11 and Southeastern-17). The Red Raiders totaled 407 points, just behind 12th place The Master’s (391pts) and in front of Embry-Riddle (434pts). This is the second best finish in program history, placing 10th in 2007.
Katie Bosch saved her best race for her final race as the senior turned in a personal best time of 17:57 to finish 18th overall, the best finish by a NWC women’s runner since 2007, and earning All-American honors (top 30 earn the postseason honor). Bosch is the first Red Raider women’s runner to earn the national honor since 2007 when Olivia Johnson (3rd) and Charity Miles (5th) both received All-American accolades. Bosch, a two-time national qualifier, finished 61 at the 2016 event.
Two additional Northwestern runners finished among the top 100 runners, led by Sarah Lunn who closed out her career with a time of 18:42 and ended 65th among the 338 runners. Bre Harthoorn placed 94th, crossing the finish line in 19:00, followed closely by Emma Van Meeteren who finished 115th with a time of 19:28. Both Katrina Engebretson (144th-19:52) and Sam Sinclair (148th-19:53) posted personal best times and Rebekah Muilenburg placed 186th, completing the 5K course in 20:22.
British Columbia repeats as the national champion, winning their fifth title in the last six years.The Thunderbirds totaled 109 points, 16 ahead of second place Wayland Baptist. Oklahoma City was third (137pts) and Stars runner, Aminat Olowora, claimed the individual championship with a time of 16:50.
