DANVILLE, Ala. - Chloe Helms earned the first individual appearance in the NAIA National Championship with a sixth place finish to highlight the women's side while the men ran their best postseason meet in program history, finishing fifth at the SSAC Cross Country Championship Friday morning at Oakville Indian Mounds Park.
Helms, a native of Eufaula, Ala., finished one spot higher than last season, earning a sixth place spot that puts her in a great location for a potential spot in the NAIA Cross Country Championship as the top four individuals not on the winning team go. Helms ran a 22:48.7 6k race to pace the Lady Eagles. Helms awaits the official announcement.
Avery Rogers ran a 25:40 time to place 31st. Sarah Lorimor placed 51st with a 29:18 time, a personal record for her. Claudia Velasquez, Martha Mendez and Saryah Martin all crossed the finish line in sequence around the 30:30 mark, with a season-best for Martin to boot.
As a team, the Lady Eagles tied for sixth in points with Loyola at 171.
The men's team wrapped up the season with an impressive stamp with four runners in the top 40, paced by David Robles's 15th place finish with a 26:58.8 time in the 8K, besting the program's best SSAC Championship time by nearly a minute.
Brodie Moore finished 28th with a 28:19.8 time for a season best. Cole Charles placed 37th with a 29:01 time with Creed Spivey just eight seconds behind him in 39th. Cam Waters placed 54th with a 30:21 time. Carson Roberson's 31:48 placed him 60th with Lane Berry-Kilpatrick's 34:21 holding for 65th. Spivey and Waters finished with PRs.
The fifth place finish bested William Carey who won the four previous championships before Mobile who repeated their team title.