UPLAND, Ind. - Grace's cross country teams enjoyed an impressive showing at the 2024 Crossroads League Championships.

The women's team set a program record, finishing as the runner-up in a stacked field, and the men's squad placed fifth overall. The women's second-place finish is the best result in team history. Grace finished only behind the No. 1-ranked squad in the NAIA.

Grace's women had each of its top-six runners finish in the top-30 of the field, including a pair of top-10 runners.
The race was incredibly fast with each of the first six runners breaking the 6k course record at Taylor. Esther Cameron and Kylie Sauder placed back-to-back in fifth and sixth place. Cameron (21:42.5) and Sauder (21:47.5) both collected All-Crossroads League recognition.

Cece Mitchell ended in 20th place with a mark of 22:55.7, and Caroline Kolb (23:07.2), Addison Grady (23:16.2) and Morgan Welch (23:29.8) finished in 26th, 28th and 30th overall.

Madelyn Skidmore was Grace's seventh finisher when she crossed the finish line at 23:58.8.

"The women have been hitting their stride and working together throughout the past few races," said Grace head coach Brian Dewey. "They run strong, fierce and together, and that enabled us to finish runner-up to the top-ranked team in the nation."

On the men's side, the Lancers had two runners place in the top-10 overall. Brandon Kleber placed fifth in the race with a time of 25:18.5, and Cole Johnston grabbed ninth place at 25:25.3. Both runners earned All-Crossroads League honors as a result.

Brady Hunsberger placed 26th (26:04.1), and the trio of Luis Loera (26:26.2), Justin Van Prooyen (26:30.8) and Austin Wilson (26:36.1) finished in a 10-second span. Hayden Mullett completed Grace's top-seven with a 48th-place finish of 27:01.4.

"Our men continue to run strong even though they have not tapered for the season," Dewey said. "The teams that finished ahead of us are ranked highly in the NAIA, so finishing fifth just shows how deep our conference is."

The postseason continues next week with the 2024 NCCAA National Championships on Friday. Grace will co-host the meet with Bethel at the Warsaw Community High School cross country course. It will be Grace's final time hosting the NCCAA championship races.

FULL RACE RESULTS

WOMEN'S RESULTS

5. Cameron - 21:42.5

6. Sauder - 21:47.5

20. Mitchell - 22:55.7

26. Kolb - 23:07.2

28. Grady - 23:16.2

30. Welch - 23:29.8

42. Skidmore - 23:58.8

52. Cross - 24:11.5

54. Geller - 24:22.4

63. Pettit - 24:37.1

74. Manning - 25:02.7

77. Spahr - 25:13.5

93. Bohls - 26:08.4

97. Samms - 26:20.2

111. Pycraft - 27:57.8

MEN'S RESULTS

5. Kleber - 25:18.5

9. Johnston - 25:25.3

26. Hunsberger - 26:04.1

33. Loera - 26:26.2

38. Van Prooyen - 26:30.8

41. Wilson - 26:36.1

48. Mullett - 27:01.4

63. McCarty - 27:23.8

64. Hoffert - 27:26.1

78. Harrold - 27:53.2

85. Nier - 28:13.1

97. McPhatter - 28:46.2

98. Robinson - 28:46.4

103. Dillman - 29:05.9

109. Fisher - 29:36.8

110. Young - 29:37.6

112. Schramm - 29:41.7

117. Quinones - 29:51.7

121. Klein - 30:15.0

123. Nichols - 30:22.8

126. Wealing - 30:26.5