Saturday, November 19, 2016

SAINT LEO, Fla. – Alaska Anchorage’s Caroline Kurgat and Joyce Chelimo and Simon Fraser’s Rebecca Bassett repeated as All-Americans while the Clan put together its best ever team finish to lead GNAC women’s competitiors at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, held Nov. 19 at The Abbey Course on the campus of Saint Leo University.

Kurgat placed in the top-10 at nationals for the second consecutive year, stepping onto the podium with a third place finish. She covered the 6,000-meter course in a time of 20:30.5, 29 seconds behind individual champion Kendra Foley of Grand Valley State.

Kurgat led a list of five GNAC honors earning All-American distinction with top-40 finishes. Chelimo became an All-American for the third time in her career, placing 10th in a time of 20:42.8. Bassett also picked up her second consecutive All-American trophy, placing 23rd in a time of 21:12.5.

Bassett led an impressive effort for Simon Fraser, which placed sixth in the team competition with 210 points. It is the Clan’s best ever Division II Championships finish and the third time has placed in the top-10 since joining the NCAA in 2011. Julia Howley also earned All-American honors for SFU, placing 29th in a time of 21:16.4.

Saint Martin’s Shannon Porter capped her only collegiate cross country season with an All-American trophy as well, placing 24th in a time of 21:13.5.

Alaska Anchorage placed eighth in the team competition with a score of 259 points. It is the eighth consecutive year that the Seawolves have placed in the top-10 at the national meet.

Simon Fraser’s sixth place finish was bolstered by placing all five scoring runners in the top-100. Miryam Bassett just missed All-American honors, placing 42nd in 21:38.2. Addy Townsend placed 68th in a time of 21:58.9 and Reta Dobie placed 99th in 22:40.4.

Mariah Burroughs was Alaska Anchorage’s No. 3 runner, placing 74th in 22:04.6. Zennah Kipchumba placed 101st in 22:21.9 and Tamara Perez rounded out the scoring five, placing 123rd with a time of 22:33.5.

Grand Valley State collected the team title with a score of 116 points. Adams State placed second with 139 points while Western State placed third with 168 points. Grand Valley’s Foley was the individual champion with a finish time of 20:01.8. Mary’s Alexis Zeis was second with a time of 20:26.4, six seconds ahead of Kurgat.