Steelman Earns All-American
Wofford junior Hannah Steelman added to her growing legacy as she placed 23rd in the NCAA D1 Cross-Country national championship in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday. Steelman formerly of Orono has excelled every since has donned the Terriers jersey, this was her first XC All-American award to go with three others from track. The finish improved on her 76th place effort from a year ago.
Hannah entered the NCAA meet coming off a fifth place finish in the Southeast regional to earn her spot on the starting line. She got off to a strong start as she came through the first 2k of the 6k race in 37th place, which was very important on the day given the muddy conditions of the course. Over the next 2k of the race Steelman improved her positioning eleven more spots up to 26th as she crossed in 13:33.7. With All-American status well within reach she continued her movement forward over the last 2k moving up three more spots to finish 23rd overall in a time of 20:32.6.
The race was won by Weini Kelati of New Mexico in 19:47.5, while the top ranked Arkansas Razorbacks took the team title.
D3 National Recap
Freshman Jillian Richardson of Bates College has the highest finish for a native Maine runner with her 56th place finish in her national championship debut. Richardson got out well in 43rd place at the 1k and basically stayed within a few seconds of that throughout the 6k race as she clocked 22:24.2. Bates finished a program best 14th in the meet as they improved on their 19th spot in the pre-meet rankings. Also helping Bates was Abby Hamilton who finished 116th in a time of 22:59.5, she was the third harrier for the Bobcats to cross the line.
Tessa Cassidy a senior from Dickinson was the next Maine athlete across the line in 58th in 22:27. Cassidy helped her squad finished 9th overall in the team race.
Tufts sophomore Anna Slager was next across the line in 63rd place in a time of 22:33. Slager was the third runner for the Jumbos who finished 8th overall as a team.
Colby's Sophia Gorman finished 9th for All-American, as did Bowdoin's Caroline Shipley in 40th.
Other Maine finishers
Rebecca Lopez-Anido (Wesleyan) 113th 22:58.1
Samantha Feenstra (Trinty) 118th 22:59.6
Emma Trapani (Wesleyan) 226th 23:52.9
Augusta Stockman (Vassar) 267th 24:42.5
Bates junior Tucker Barber was the top Maine finisher with his 135th place effort of 25:40. Barber was the top finisher for the Bobcats who placed 32nd.
Henry Jacques a junior from RPI was next in 152nd with his 25:48.6. He was the 5th runner for the Engineers who placed 10th overall.
University of New England's Jacob Hickey finished 154th in 25:48.9 in his first national race.
Colby College had a pair of All-Americans with Eli Decker in 35th (24:55.3) and Tyler Morris in 36th (24:55.7), The Mules finished 16th overall as a team.
D2 National Recap
Leading the way was Flager College junior Malia Cryan who finished 131st in a new personal best of 21:57.2 for 6k as she was the top runner for the Saints.
Stonehill's Anna Lastra finished 196th in a time of 22:44 as she was the sixth runner for the Skyhawks who finished 22nd overall.
