Brockman's Runner-Up Performance Propels Women to Third Place Finish at Nationals
Richmond, VA - The Thunderbirds women's cross country team were led by Kate Brockman at the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships.
The T-Birds finished with a program-record third place finish in the team standings, scoring 107 points. Lansing CC won the national title with 78 points and Heartland CC were the national runner-ups with 94 points.
Brockman kept herself within the top five for most of the race, but when it came down to the last mile, Brockman was able to move ahead and separate herself from the pack to earn the individual national runner-up title and All-American honors. Brockman also recorded a new personal-best time of 18:37.3 for 5,000 meters.
Tanaeya Johnson was the second T-Bird earn All-American honors, as she put on an impressive performance to finish 11th overall with a time of 19:25.1. Makayla Engelhardt was the third and final T-Bird to earn All-American honors with a 23rd place showing and running a time of 20:01.1. Anna Harmon (35th, 20:22.6), Story Alexander (45th, 20:34.7), and Brooke Stradling (66th, 21:03.8) also represented the T-Birds at the championships.
"What a day for Kate and Tanaeya," said Head Coach Dan Pescador. "I am so proud of them and the determination they showed. Kate executed her race to perfection and was rewarded with a national runner-up finish. I am so happy for Tanaeya and the way she competed. She never backed down and was constantly moving up. She really wanted to get on the podium, and it showed over the last half mile. We had a group of six strong-willed women that competed to the very end. They really dug deep and closed well, as at the two-mile mark, we actually dropped down the fifth-place. But with a half mile to go, each one of our ladies moved up, which resulted in a third place team finish. Couldn't be prouder of this group."
With the conclusion of the national championships, the 2021 cross country season has officially ended. The athletes will take some time off to recover, and then will change gears for the 2022 indoor/ outdoor track & field seasons.
NJCAA DIVISION II NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPLETE RESULTS
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