ASHLAND, Neb. -- Sophomore Abigail Stucker turned in the third-fastest 6K in program history Saturday (Oct. 24), leading the John Brown University women's cross country team to an eighth-place finish among 28 teams at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic at the Olsson XC Course at Mahoney State Park.
Stucker finished fifth overall in 22:08, trailing only Cera Eckenroth's program-record 21:57 from 2023 and Stucker's own 22:00 performance at the Golden Eagle Invitational two weeks earlier on JBU's all-time list.
John Brown scored 226 points and posted a team time of 1:57:49, the second-fastest 6K in program history behind the 1:56:06 record the Golden Eagles established Oct. 10 in Siloam Springs.
Dordt won the 28-team race with 104 points and a team time of 1:55:15.
A quartet of freshmen followed Stucker in the scoring five. Layla Maline finished 35th in 23:24, Allie Robertson took 44th in 23:39 and Emma Hunt crossed 60th in 23:57. Vivian Sindelar rounded out the scoring five in 95th with a collegiate-best 24:39, lowering her previous 6K best of 25:08 by 29 seconds.
The performance gave the Golden Eagles the two fastest 6K team times in program history in consecutive races as JBU moves through the final stages of the regular season.
"They're putting in so much work behind the scenes that deserves to be recognized. I believe our ladies did what they needed to do to stay in the hunt for a national berth," director of track and field and cross country Peter Cunningham said.
"Abigail ran such a gutsy race. She knew she belonged near the front and put herself in the mix from the gun. It's fun to see her race without fear."
The Blue and Gold return home Saturday (Nov. 7) for the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships in Siloam Springs at Pollard's Field.
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