Final Results 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Chloe Helms ran in the NAIA Cross Country Championships on Friday at Apalachee Regional Park in Florida's capital city, a course the Eagles ran this September in the Hoka Nights of Thunder event and one that will host the Cross Country World Championships in January. In a field of 333 women's runners and on a day affected by fog and mist, Helms came in 162nd place with a final time of 23:26.6.  

"I am literally just in awe of even being here," Helms said after the race. "It's literally like a dream just being here! Just seeing all the hard work pay off, this is such an answered prayer for me. So, I'm just trying to soak it all in, it's awesome." 

*CORRECTION FROM PREVIOUS RELEASES* Helms becomes the second Lady Eagle in Faulkner history to make the nationals field as an individual after Carlie Alexander ran at the NAIA XC Championship 5K in 2000 at NCAA DII Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis., in the first iteration of cross country in school history. Helms owns the highest finish at nationals as Alexander finished in 211th place; Alexander finished with a mark of 22:36.  

The First Team All-SSAC honoree earned the fourth-best 6K time in program history since the program restarted in 2022. Helms now owns the top eight times since that time in Faulkner history, plastering her name all throughout the record book. She has made her mark in just two seasons so far as a Lady Eagle and will look to reach even higher goals next fall as a junior.