Steinmetz Runs to Second Straight Win at Blazing Tiger
ASHLAND, Neb. -- As she did at Dordt two weeks ago, Bruin freshman Grace Steinmetz bolted to the lead in the first half mile and was never challenged as she won for the second time in a row at Saturday's Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic. The meet, created and hosted by the College of St. Mary and Doane University at Mahoney State Park, brings together the top squads from the region, including four top twenty teams and six other squads receiving votes in the latest NAIA poll. Steinmetz's time of 20:48.1 was eight seconds off her school record for the six-kilometer distance but nearly a half-minute in front of the second-place finisher today. Her time was a meet record, eclipsing the 20:52 mark from 2022, and is now the third fastest on the course among all collegiate classes that will host the Big East, Summit League, and GPAC championships this year.
Conditions were ideal for cross-country racing, with firm footing and temperatures in the mid-50s at race time over the rolling course. Thirty-five invited women's teams and 275 finishers competed, with the Bruin women placing 20th among 27 squads that fielded a full team. The ninth-ranked College of Idaho was the team champion, placing four runners in the top eight finishers. Scoring runners for the Bruins were second runner Maggie Boley, who ran to a 69th place finish in 23:45.1. Next was Wren Hofacket, crossing in 25:46.6 at 175th. Rapidly improving Lydia Cherotich established a personal season best with a 197th place finish in 26:18.9, while Ashley Guatemala rounded out the Bruin scorers as she was 212th in 26:43.1. Cloey Usher crossed the line in 257th and 29:41.0, while sister Emily Usher had a huge three-minute season best with her 32:33.1 in 272nd.
Head Coach Craig Christians: "This course is more challenging than our meet at Dordt a couple of weeks ago, and four of our women were within 26 seconds of what they ran there, so I think we're happy with that. I liked what I saw in terms of competitiveness…the attitude has been great this fall. Grace just did Grace things again and showed again that she's one of the top women in the NAIA. I think we're all excited about our trip to Billings for the conference meet in a couple of weeks."
The Bruins will travel to Billings, Mont., for their first Frontier Conference championship on November 7. The championship team and top four individuals who are not members of that team will advance to the NAIA championship on November 21 in Tallahassee, Fla.
