Cross Country Ends Season at Nationals

For the first time in Pensacola State College history, the women's cross country national championship athletes were able to compete individually and place as a full team of five, at a national meet.

Earlier in the season the team raced this course to help prepare them for the 5k race. Each of the athletes improved their times, but more than that they were able to race together as a pack. The top three finishers were Kaydee Cook at 23:15, followed by Christine Clark at 23:23, and Madyson Sutherlin at 23:44. Coming in fourth was Emmalei Miller at 24:03 and fifth was Trinity Maracle at 25:28.

At the NJCAA level, a team of five athletes is considered a full scoring team. There were 144 teams present and 279 runners. Some teams race with single runners, some with a few qualifiers. Only 38 schools raced with full women's teams. The Lady Pirates raced as a pack and placed 35th, supporting each other to achieve personal records.

Three days following the 5k race, three of our team members participated as Pensacola State College's first full half marathon team. In the half marathon distance, three runners are considered a full team.

Kaydee Cook finished first at 1:59. This was a 17-minute improvement on her time from last year. Coming in second was Trininty Maracle, finishing in 2:05. Due to injury this was Maracle's first half marathon. Team captain, Emmalei Miller, came in at 2:07.