SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Davis & Elkins College men's and women's cross country teams made history at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in Sacramento, California, achieving their highest-ever team finishes in program history. The Senators overcame challenging rainy and muddy conditions on the Arcade Creek Cross Country Course, with the men finishing 27th and the women taking 28th place overall.
"It's very fitting that both groups finished this historic season with the highest finishes in program history. They made history all season long," said Head Coach Jason Pyles. "For the men, they ended the season with a national top-30 ranking for the second year in a row, and the women earned the second ever national top-30 end of season ranking in program history (2019)."
Men's Team Recap
Led by senior Carter McKenna, the men's team battled through the soggy 10k course. McKenna recorded the second-fastest 10k in program history with a time of 30:55.0, securing 59th place overall and scoring 50 points. Junior Jan Thewes followed with a strong performance, placing 131st and scoring 113 points with a time of 31:37.6. Seniors Gabe Conder and Jackson Gibson, along with junior Konnor Allison, rounded out the scoring effort, helping the team achieve their historic 27th-place finish in the nation.
Men's Individual Results:
Men's 10k full results
Women's Team Recap
On the women's side, junior Lauren Twyman delivered a historic performance, finishing 96th overall with a time of 22:07.6, the highest individual finish in program history. Sophomore Lydia Falkenstein and junior Savanna Hardman also had standout performances, finishing 117th and 150th, respectively. The team's 28th-place finish marks the program's best showing at the national championships.
Women's Individual Results:
Women's 6k full results
Historic Achievements and Perseverance
The muddy and rain-soaked conditions added to the difficulty of the championship course, but the Senators demonstrated resilience and determination, achieving remarkable success. With multiple individual milestones and record-breaking team finishes, the Davis & Elkins cross country program continues to establish itself as a competitive force on the national stage.Â
"I can't thank this entire group enough for the commitment they have made to this sport, this team, and this college," said Pyles. "They make me extremely proud! I'm excited for a bright future ahead for this program but also sad to see a special group of seniors finish their cross country careers. It's a season I didn't want to end but more importantly a season I will never forget."
