Air Force Women’s Cross Country Has BIG Weekend at NCAA Championships

This past weekend the Falcon Women’s Cross Country competed and finished 8^th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. This is the best finish by an Air Force Women’s team in Division I and tying the best Air Force overall finish since 1967 either by men or women. There are over 330 women’s cross-country teams that compete in Division I women’s cross country.

With Juniors Maria Mettler and Mahala Norris finishing in the top 40, the future of the program looks great. Metter finished in 36^th place and Norris finished in 39^th earning them both All-American medals from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches’ Association. This is the first time in program history that the women have earned multiple All-America accolades in the same Division I championship race.

We had two more runners place within the top 75, Senior Lindsey Blanks and Sophomore Mikayla Gallagher finished 61st and 71st, with Senior Teri Brady rounding out the Falcons’ scoring lineup, at 138th overall. Also running in the championships were Sophomore Jenna Kill and Senior Swathi Samuel both collecting top-200 finishes.

”Our girls ended the season racing the same way they have all fall – for the team and ahead of our ranking,” head coach Ryan Cole said of his team. “The two things that enabled our results throughout the year were really the resiliency this group showed and the level of fun they’ve had pursuing being the best team they can be. The girls really care about each other and are extremely committed. It’s awesome to see that effort and dedication rewarded.”

FLY YOU FALCONS!!!