Ellen Palmgren won the women's individual 5K and Davis Boggess was runner-up in the men's competition as they each led the women's and men's teams to respective GSAC Cross Country Championships Saturday in Rocklin, Calif.
The women's team, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, captured the top four places in the race, plus an eighth place finish to capture their third consecutive team championship. As a team, the Lady Mustangs ran two minutes and 38 seconds faster than second place Westmont.
"This championship was a team effort through and through," said Head Coach Zach Schroeder. "I can't highlight a single athlete because that would require mentioning every athlete on the roster, including those that were not able to race today. Our team verse is John 13:35, recognizing our most powerful testimony is our love for one another. Today's race was such a tangible expression of that love. Although just a race, it was a physical expression of laying down their lives for each other as Christ laid down His life for us. It was incredible to see every athlete, regardless of their position on the team, willing to suffer to help their teammates."
Palmgren blistered the course, winning by over 43 seconds with a time of 18:39. Kimberly Page finished second (19:23), Autumn Nootbaar third (19:30), Hannah Fredericks fourth (19:43) and Sophie Southerden eighth (20:00).
"Several of our women were quite sick today," Schroeder said. "Nonetheless, the Lord was kind, and despite the sickness, He blessed the ladies with the lowest team score in program history, men or women."
"The Lord was so kind to us today as a team," Palmgren said. "I just wanted to go out today and love my team well. Hannah is such an incredible leader on this team, we wouldn't be in this position today without her example to follow all season, and I wanted to support her in the best way I could by racing hard. This is the best race we've ever had as a women's team because we were not focused on ourselves but God's glory and love for each other from top to bottom on the team."
The men's team, ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, placed three runners in the top four and all five in the top eight to get their 13th consecutive GSAC championship. The men's total time of 2:02:28 was three minutes and 33 seconds faster than Westmont.
Boggess ran the 8K in 23:54 for his second-place finish, followed by Brint Laubach in third (24:06), Daniel Rush in fourth (24:22), Anthony Ghiroso in seventh (24:55) and Connor Ybarra in eighth (25:07).
"Today as a men's team we focused on loving one another well," said Boggess. "This team is truly a brotherhood and it has been such a blessing to serve them this year. I encouraged the guys with 1 John 3:16 before the race. "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers". Christ paid it all on the cross for our sins and because of this reality we were able to run without any external pressure. As this is our 13th victory, we understand that it is only by the Lord's strength and we stand on many alumni's shoulders. Our focus is on preaching Christ in Tallahassee in 2 weeks, to Him be the glory."
Both teams now have two weeks to prepare for the NAIA National Championships to be held in Tallahassee, Fla. Last month the teams ran this course in the Florida State XC Invitational with the men winning the meet and the women finishing seventh out of the 30 teams competing.
"This race really sharpened us for nationals and was exactly what we needed to be prepared for what awaits us in Tallahassee in two weeks," Shroeder said. "We're thankful for two very strong Westmont teams. The great competition they provided really brought out our best."
