Gallatin, TN -- The Trailblazer cross country teams won the Welch College Invitational September 21, 2024. Ohio Christian University defeated Alice Lloyd College, Boyce College, and Welch College to claim the crown. The men raced 8-kilometers while the women conquered the 5-kilometer course.

The Women's team needed to be faster than the 22 minute and 5 second team average national standard. The women had many season bests and a personal record to average 21 minutes and 26.9 seconds on the day. These results will send the Woman's team to the Division 1 NCCAA national championship in Warsaw, IN on November 15th, where they will join the Men's team who already qualified.

The Women's team was led by a quartet of Trailblazers. Sr. Lexie Engstrom won the race in a time of 20:33. Finishing close behind Engstrom was So. Paige Parker, So. Impreza Rodgers, and So. Abigail Kobs who finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, in times of 20:39, 20:51, and 21:00. Kobs 21 minute 5-k was a 24 second personal best. Sr. Jenna Ayer rounded out the women's scores finishing 7th in a time of 24:10.

The entire Men's team dominated the competition, finishing ahead of every other runner. Sr. Corry Mientkiewicz won the men's race and broke the 8-k course record running a time of 26:44. Sr. Jason Springer finished runner-up in a time of 28:22. Graduate student Evan Caldwell finished third, with a 37-second personal best in 28:29. Sr. Payton Herron was next across the line in fourth place in 28:47. Fr. Jonah Kiess rounded out the men's scorers in fifth place in a time of 29:11. This was the first one through five finish in a competition in school history.

There were 15 men's finishers and 11 women's finishers.

The Trailblazer cross country teams head to Kentucky on October 5th for the Live in Lou Classic hosted by the University of Louisville.