Mars Hill Women with highest finish in ten years at NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship
The Mars Hill women's cross country team placed 13th out of 37 teams for their highest finish in ten years at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship and finishes the 2024 season as the third fastest team in school history.
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Mars Hill women's cross country team had their highest finish in ten years at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship at Milliken Research Park in Spartanburg, S.C. during the running of the 6k race. The Mars Hill women's team ran strong as a pack to finish as the 13th place out of 37 teams in the southeast region. The Lady Lions also finished the 2024 season as the 3rd fastest team in the history of Mars Hill Women's Cross Country with a 5k team average of 19:30 and a 6k team average of 24:09 behind only the 2004 and 2014 teams.
On a rolling and curvy cross country race course the Lady Lions were led up front by a tight pack of Grace Adams in 60th, Hannah Frazer in 61st, and Mary Malcolm in 62nd place. Natalee Powers followed close behind in 73rd place. All four ladies have completed the athletic requirements to be nominated for the Academic All-American Team by placing in the top 30% of the NCAA DII Southeast Regional race. Lola Korth rounded out the top five scoring by finishing strong in 98th place.
Grace Adams finished with a new 6k personal best time of 23:41. Hannah Frazer finished with her second best 6k time ever of 23:46. Mary Malcolm finished with a new 6k personal best time of 23:50. Natalee Powers finished with a new 6k personal best time of 24:15. Lola Korth finished with a new 6k personal best time of 25:14. Sarah McNeill also finished with a new 6k personal best for a total of five Lady Lions with new personal records.
The Lady Lions finished the 2024 season as the 3rd fastest team in the history of Mars Hill Women's Cross Country behind only the 2004 and 2014 teams. Six individual Lady Lions have earned positions on the all-time Mars Hill Women's Cross Country 6k Leaderboard. Sophie Ratcliff finished as the 2nd fastest of all time in Mars Hill Women's Cross Country history, Hannah Frazer as the 11th fastest, Grace Adams as the 12th fastest, Mary Malcolm as the 15th fastest, Lindsey Jenkins as the 18th fastest, and Natalee Powers as the 19th fastest.
View the full Mars Hill Women's Cross Country leaderboards here.
Thoughts from Coach Benge:
"The women's team showed great improvement this year with their highest finish at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship since 2014. Without a low scoring runner and very strong pack running, the ladies executed a strong team performance and look to break into the top ten teams in the region next year! This is great momentum to head into track season and to fuel training for the next cross country season. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that none of the ladies are leaving and all will return stronger and faster next season! Watch out for Mars Hill Women's Cross Country in 2025!"
To view the full list of results, please click here.
The Mars Hill women's cross country team has concluded their 2024 fall season and will look forward to the upcoming Indoor Track & Field season with competition beginning in December.
