Trailblazer Cross Country improves on ranking at NJCAA Nationals

RICHMOND, Va. – The Vincennes University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams had a great day Saturday afternoon at the 2024 NJCAA Division I National Championships hosted at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Va.

Both of the VU men's and women's teams finished higher than their National ranking heading into the Championship race with the VU men's team finishing 14th overall and the Vincennes women's team placing 19th overall.

The day began with the women's 5k race where the Trailblazers were once again led by freshman Sarra Belgacem (Tunis, Tunisia) who placed 64th overall with a final time of 19:27.7.

Sophomore Adi Fuller (Evansville, Ind.) was the second VU women's runner across the line, once again saving her best for last with a final time of 20:15.2 to take home 92nd place overall.

Freshman Allie Black (Lynn, Ind.) was close behind in third for the Trailblazers, finishing with a time of 20:55.2 to place 122nd overall.

The VU top five was rounded out by sophomore Jasmyn Self (Casey, Ill.) and freshman Alexis Hale (Evansville, Ind.) with Self posting a time of 21:20.1 and Hale coming in at 21:37.6.

Freshman Melina Loudermilk (Bridgeport, Ill.) closed out the race for the Trailblazers with a finishing time of 23:52.6.

The VU women's team placed 19th overall as a team with a total of 506 points in the race.

"The weather was great for the race, in the low 60s in the sun," VU Head Cross Country Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "The course was different than three years ago and probably made it a little faster. The men ran a 2k loop four times and the women ran a smaller 1k loop at the start and then finished with two of the 2k loops."

"The women improved on their ranking by two spots to finish 19th overall," Steigenga added. "Sarra led the team once again with a five second PR. She went out way too fast at the beginning of the race and felt the effects early on but managed to rally and finish as the top runner for the team, as she has all season."

"Adi finished with a new season's best in her final cross country race for VU," Steigenga said. "For the second season in a row, she ran her best at the National meet. Allie finished as our third runner again and Alexis followed her with the biggest PR of the VU women's team, running 19 seconds faster than her previous best."

"Jasmyn ran her second fastest time as a Trailblazer," Steigenga added. "Melina completed a successful comeback from injury as she finished her third race of the season."

The day was finished with the running of the men's 8k race, which saw freshman Anis Abdaoui (Kairouan, Tunisia) pace the Blazers with a time of 24:59.5 to take 35th place overall in the race.

Sophomores Cody Noel (Hebron, Ind.) and Tanner Spence (Carmi, Ill.) were the next two Blazers across the line, with Noel coming in just ahead of Spence with a time of 26:00.5 and Spence posting a time of 26:04.7.

Freshman Kelvin Kipsang (Kapsabet, Kenya) was the fourth VU runner to finish the race, posting a time of 26:45.5, with sophomore Caden Hostetler (LaGrange, Ind.) rounding out the Vincennes top five with a time of 27:00.8.

Freshman Lane Connaway (Carmi, Ill.) and sophomore Nathan Whitehead (Vincennes, Ind.) closed out the race for the Trailblazers with Connaway finishing with a time of 27:21.2 and Whitehead ending with a time of 27:23.6.

The VU men's team finished 14th overall as a team with a total of 389 points.

"The men moved up to 14th overall after being ranked 16," Steigenga said. "Anis led the team with a 19 second PR and a new school record. He broke the old record of 25:10.1 set in 2014 by two-time NJCAA XC All-American Robert Murphy."

"Cody ran a very even and smart race, picking up over 60 places during the course of the race," Steigenga added. "He was rewarded with a 10 second PR and improved on his finish from last year's race. Tanner finished right behind Cody with the biggest PR of the day, running 27 seconds faster than his previous best."

"Kelvin had a rough race to finish as our fourth runner," Steigenga said. "Before VU, he only ran the 800 meters, so stepping up to the longer distance has been a challenge but he is slowly figuring it out. Caden narrowly missed his PR but moved up 58 spots from his first National meet. Lane and Nathan ran near to each other the whole race with Lane getting ahead of Nathan in the finishing stretch and both finishing with new PRs."

"The reason our men's team was able to do s well this year was because of our sophomore leadership," Steigenga added. "Cody, Tanner, Caden and Nathan have done a great job of leading the team in practice and meets, setting a great example for the freshmen that will be in their shoes next year. Adi and Jasmyn have also done a great job leading the women's team. They have been great examples to the freshmen this year and have played a big role in helping us build up the women's team as we continue to grow."

The fall season is not over for the Trailblazers though as members of the VU men's and women's Cross Country teams will now get ready to take part in the NJCAA Men's and Women's Half Marathon Championships Tuesday, Nov. 12 hosted at Dorey Park in Richmond, Va.

"Overall it was a great National meet for us," Steigenga said. "We wanted to finish higher by the quality of the field made that really tough. The men ran the second fastest team time in school history and is arguably the best men's team that VU has ever sent to Nationals."

"It's hard to be disappointed when your top three runners PR at the National meet," Steigenga said. "Many were saying this was the fastest NJCAA XC National meet ever. We placed 12th at the National meet two years ago and if we put this year's team in that race, it's not a stretch to say we would finish five places higher than that."

"It just shows how much the NJCAA has improved in that short span and I look forward to continuing to build the program up as we look to crack the top ten on both the men's and women's side," Steigenga added. "Before we take a break after the cross country season, 10 men and four women will race in the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships for VU Tuesday morning."

MEET RESULTS

WOMEN'S RESULTS

VU (19) – 506 points

Sarra Belgacem (64) – 19:27.7

Adi Fuller (92) – 20:15.2

Allie Black (122) – 20:55.2

Jasmyn Self (138) – 21:20.1

Alexis Hale (146) – 21:37.6

Melina Loudermilk (170) – 23:52.6

MEN'S RESULTS

VU (14) – 389 points

Anis Abdaoui (35) – 24:59.5

Cody Noel (69) – 26:00.5

Tanner Spence (74) – 26:04.7

Kelvin Kipsang (114) – 26:45.5

Caden Hostetler (120) – 27:00.8

Lane Connaway (137) – 27:21.2

Nathan Whitehead (140) – 27:23.6