GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The No. 22 LC State Women’s Cross Country team put together a strong showing in a competitive field at Saturday’s NAIA Great Lakes Challenge. Damaris Kibiwot finished just outside the top 10 while the Warriors place ninth as a team in the 5k field of 22 of the NAIA’s best.
“We take these trips for two basic reasons: one, to help make us better in preparation for what we hope will be a national championship appearance, and two, to strengthen or improve our position in the national polls to earn that opportunity,” head coach Mike Collins explained. “Our women had a day that could have gone a bit better, but their results should help solidify their spot in the national rankings. Nobody beat us that wasn’t supposed to, and we finished ahead of No. 12 Aquinas (Mich.), which was important.”
Kibiwot continued her stellar sophomore season with an 11th-place finish in the field of 187 runners. She crossed the finish line in 18:13.7.
The senior duo of Grace Tiegs and Camille Ussher finished 41st and 53rd, respectively. Tiegs ran a time of 18:52.1 and Ussher ran her race in 18:57.6. Freshmen Kailee Lerew and Eva Lundgren rounded out the top five for the Warriors. Lerew placed 92nd (19:22.8) and Lundgren was 122nd (19:42.6).
“Damaris continues to roll, finishing in the top 15 in a very talented field,” Collins said. “Seniors Grace and Camille followed close behind, with Kailee and Eva rounding out our scoring. All of them competed well, but each knows there’s still room for improvement.”
Lily Bennet was the next LC State runner to cross the line and finished 136th (19:59.5). Leila Flannery her fourth straight personal best with a time of 20:22.5 to place 146th. Lilly Gilbert earned 152nd (20:32.1) and Nuala Rollins was 156th (20:38.5).
“The encouraging part is that they, and I, know we can be better. We’ll have to be ready for the 6k distance coming up after running 5ks the past two weeks, but I know they’ll put in the work to be ready,” Collins added. “Our gals know that they have an impact on the outcome and we work together as a team. We’ll be focusing on closing gaps and strengthening the middle part of our races as we head into the championship phase of the season.”
UP NEXT
With the regular season in the rearview, the Warriors will race at the 2025 Cascae Conference Cross Country Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, on Nov. 7 in Salem, Ore.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
