COLUMBIA, MO. - The University of Saint Mary women's cross country team capped off an incredible season with a third-place finish at the NAIA National Championships held at Gans Creek in Columbia, Missouri. The Spires delivered a stellar team performance, placing four runners in the Top 40 and earning All-American honors for those athletes. Their remarkable effort solidified their spot on the podium, highlighting a season of teamwork and individual excellence.
Leading the way for Saint Mary was Reagan Hiebert, who finished 14th overall with a time of 21:21.80. Right behind her was twin sister Riley Hiebert in 15th place, clocking in at 21:22.50. Kate Madsen followed with a strong 24th-place finish at 21:34.50, while Josie Tyrrell placed 31st at 21:41.50, rounding out the All-Americans for the Spires. Monse Guerrero-Chapula closed out the scoring for the team, finishing in 53rd place with a time of 22:13.20.
The Spires' team effort resulted in a score that propelled them to the podium:
- The Master's – 92 points
- Taylor University – 93 points
- University of Saint Mary – 125 points
- Milligan – 129 points
- Montreat – 176 points
This podium finish marks the culmination of a highly successful season for the Spires, adding a national medal to their already impressive KCAC Championship. With four All-Americans and a team that performed at its best on the biggest stage, Saint Mary's women's cross country has set a standard of excellence to build upon in the years ahead.
