OCT 3, 2024 | SPORTS | By Grant Loui
While students left for Block Break, the women’s cross country team was hard at work. They won the John McNichols Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind., finishing ahead of five of the top ten Division III teams. The Tigers, ranked No. 16 nationally before the meet, climbed to the top of the rankings for the first time in program history. Their jump to No. 1 is the largest in NCAA history, regardless of division. Isabel Olson ‘25 finished 13 across all divisions and second in Division III, and Sydney Rankin ‘25 finished third in Division III and 16 overall. The men’s team placed 12 among Division III teams at the same race.
“It was kind of a surprise because we are still very early season, and that was our first real competition we were taking seriously, and we didn’t honestly expect to do quite that well,” said head coach Alex Nichols.
This week, the Tigers also took home both SCAC runners of the week awards for the second time this season. Isabel Olson ‘25 and Vincent Mangat ‘28 won female and male runner of the week, respectively.
“Cross country and track are somewhat year-round sports, so the team is year-round, whether that’s on their own or part of the season,” Nichols said. “[The runners are] always doing things outside of the team together.”
They run at least 30 miles a week, with some getting in as many as 90 miles. In meets against all collegiate divisions, men run an 8k while women run about four miles. Despite the women and men running separately, the teams are close.
The team’s spirits are high. Nichols called the win “the biggest single-day regular season race that the team has ever had.”
The team has the Augustana Invitational race in Illinois on Oct. 19. This is the next big step. “That will be a really big test of how we stack up against the best national teams,” Nichols said.
But before then, the cross country teams have two other races. Their next meet will be hosted at home at Monument Valley Park North on Oct. 5, followed by another race hosted by the University of Colorado Colorado Springs.
Coach Nichols has no intention of changing up the team’s training. “At this point, we aren’t changing too much even though it was a successful weekend. I told the team already that we don’t need to change anything because what we are doing is working.” But in the second half of the season, the training volume will decrease to keep their legs fresh.
The cross country team has four more races left in the regular season, and with the recent personal records of students, the team’s relative youth, and the excitement, the cross country team has a bright future.
“Our team is in a really good spot right now,” Nichols said. Adding that there are high hopes the team can “finish high in the championship.” But that’s not until Nov. 23. Until then, the cross-country team will continue to train and improve as they have been. And with that dedication and the recent wins behind them, they have the momentum to pass the competition.