Mustang women record best-ever finish at nationals, men second best

TMU Cross Country capped off a record-breaking season with a historic performance on Friday at the NAIA National Championships in Vancouver, Washington.

The women’s team finished sixth, its highest-ever team finish at nationals in program history, while the men placed seventh, their second-best finish ever. Wesley Methum, Hannah Fredericks, Arianna Ghiorso and Ellen Palmgren earned NAIA All-American honors for the Mustangs.

“We praise and thank the Lord for the outcome this weekend,” Master's Head Coach Zach Schroeder said. “What a privilege to represent our Savior, and what a joy to do so with this team. What stands out most to me about today was the humility and unity my team showed.”

Master’s placed fourth among all institutions, combining the finishes of teams competing in both the men’s and women’s races. Friday marks the first time both Mustang squads have finished in the top-seven in the team standings and the first time the two teams together placed in the top-four of the combined standings.

“This is the first time in program history that we've made the podium and it's very fitting that we did it together as a combined team,” Schroeder said. “It's indicative of the unique unity that exists between our men's and women's teams as siblings of Christ. It was truly a special moment.”

Three Mustang women received All-American recognition at the same national meet for the first time, with Ghiorso becoming the third female Master’s runner to earn All-American status multiple times.

“The Lord is so faithful and really showed that faithfulness to our team today in allowing us to go out and perform better than any team in program history,” Palmgren said. “This is truly a special group of people whose focus is on glorifying the Lord through running and that has been on display throughout the season.”

Golden State Athletic Conference individual champion Hannah Fredericks once again paced the Lady Stangs, placing 16th with her time of 18:42.6. The Santa Clarita native was as high as second place after the first kilometer and then remained in the top-10 through three kilometers, before becoming the second Mustang freshman to become an All-American.

Team captain Ghiorso was next in 32nd place (18:52.2), with Palmgren close behind in 34th (18:54.5), to make it three female Mustang All-Americans.

“We started this morning out by spending time in prayer with the whole team, which really just put us in the right mindset of having our eyes fixed on Christ,” Ghiorso said.

Palmgren rose to the occasion on Friday, claiming her first All-American award after lingering health problems earlier in the season put her prospects at nationals in doubt.

“Today in the race I didn’t want to waste the opportunity that the Lord gave me and I was constantly being reminded that the greatest victory has already been won for us on the cross through Jesus’ sacrifice,” Palmgren said. “A big focus on the team is dying to self and offering yourself as a living sacrifice to the great God we serve and I feel like running is such an easy way the Lord has given us to do just that.”

Kimberly Page (71st – 19:23.9) and Sophie Southerden (89th – 19:33.4) rounded out the Mustangs’ scoring five to clinch the team’s best-ever finish.

“I told the ladies before their race that if we were going to stand on the podium, it was up to them,” Schroeder said. “I knew if we had a great race on the women's side, we had a chance to finish in the top-four as a combined program. Our girls ran incredibly. They raced hard for the Lord and for their team. We made three All Americans, which is something we've never done before.”

Palmgren added, “Whether they were out here or not, everyone on the team played a significant part in how we did today through their encouragement and focus on glorifying the Lord."

The Master’s men got off to a fast start, leading the race after one kilometer, with Daniel Rush pacing the team in third place. The group was then in second place after two kilometers, with Rush in eighth.

Three Mustangs were in the All-American places for each of the first seven kilometers, before Methum placed 26th (25:45.6) to earn his second-straight All-American finish. Methum becomes the fourth Mustang male to finish in the All-American places on multiple occasions.

“I’m very thankful for the strength that the Lord provided to run strong in the race,” Methum said. “It is very obvious throughout the races that I have run that the results belong to the Lord. It is up to us to prepare well, and it is up to the Lord to provide the opportunity.”

Two-time defending GSAC individual champion Davis Boggess just missed out on NAIA All-American honors, finishing in 45th (26:02.2). Rush, who paced the Mustang contingent for much of the race and was in the top-10 for the first few kilometers, placed 55th (26:12.2).

2019 NAIA All-American Brint Laubach (67th – 26:23.0) and Zach Garey (75th - 26:32.2) helped Master’s record its second-best finish in program history.

“As a team, we really wanted to use this opportunity to worship the Lord and be influencers for His Kingdom,” Methum said. “This was definitely a special year. We returned five of our top seven and ran the fastest team time in program history earlier this season. The result today is what the Lord had for us and we worshiped Him through it."

Schroeder added: “I truly believe my men had all the pieces and the preparation necessary to win, but the Lord saw fit to bless us with a seventh-place finish. My guys responded with great humility and gratitude and immediately turned their attention to supporting the women's team.”

Both Mustang teams entered the championships ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Coaches’ Poll and either matched or bettered that ranking on Friday.