Tallahassee, Fla. - For the second consecutive year, the Marian women's cross country team made program history at the NAIA Championship, with the Knights setting a new program record with their sixth-place finish Friday morning. Katie Woods ended her decorated cross country career with her second NAIA All-American honor.

The Knights had a strong showing Friday morning, as the team got off to a quick start, building a top-10 showing early as the team held eighth place after 1170 meters. As the race neared the halfway point, the team moved their overall standing to sixth place, where they fought to hold for the final 3000 meters. Marian would conclude the race firmly in sixth overall, trailing the College of Idaho by 44 points in the race for fifth. 

Taylor University would win the NAIA Championship for the second time in their history, with their sophomore Jaynie Halterman winning the national championship individually. Milligan finished second, followed by Dordt, The Master's, and College of Idaho.

For the Knights individual efforts, Katie Woods put a bow on her cross country career with a strong 16th-place finish, leading Marian to the finish line. Woods held her own throughout the race, competing for a top-10 placement, before sliding in the final 1000 meters, as she would finish 16th with a time of 21:42.6. Woods earned NAIA All-American honors with her run, the second time in her career doing so.

Following Woods to the line was Kaelina Matthews, who placed 56th overall with a time of 22:21.4 in her first championship experience. Summer Rempe finished 83rd overall with a time of 22:44.1, and Gracynn Hinkley finished 90th overall, hitting a time of 22:49.0. Lainey Roth would finish 92nd overall in a time of 22:49.9, putting all of Marian's top-five runners in the top 100. The scoring order for the Knights' top five was 14th, 48th, 68th, 73rd, and 74th. 

Completing the team's efforts was Josie Feldman who placed 132nd with a time of 23:11, and Emersyn Weaver, who finished with a 23:22 time and the 150th overall finish.

Marian's sixth-place finish is a program record, with the Knights finishing six places better than their 2024 championship appearance. 

With cross country season in the books, the Knights now turn their focus to track and field season. The Knights open their indoor season on December 5 and 6. 

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