GLASSBORO, N.J. – Dominating as a pack, the TCNJ women's cross country team punched their ticket to the NCAA Championships with a major victory at the NCAA Metro Regional Championship meet on Saturday.
Earning the program's first regional title since the 2003 Atlantic Regional Championships, the Lions pack dominated as each of the top five runners placed among the top-20, with just ten spots and 27 seconds separating first and fifth. With 68 points as a team, the blue and gold held off conference rival Stockton (86) to clinch the first NCAA team appearance since back in 2018.
FINISH LINE SNAPSHOTS
- Freshman Naesha Gadie led the Lions pack with a strong finish in the final stretch to take 10th place with her time of 22:35.7, which set a new personal record.
- Senior Cassidy Quinn was a literal step behind Gadie at the finish line, placing 11th with her time just four-tenths of a second slower at 22:36.1.
- The next in the pack to cross the finish line was senior Salini Lyer, who finished in 14th place with her new personal-best time of 22:48.7 to score 13 points.
- Also recording a new personal best mark, senior Katherine Rice found herself 16th overall after clocking a 22:57.8, scoring 15 to keep the TCNJ pack rolling.
- Senior Emily Hoegler rounded out the top-five Lions finishers in 20th with a time of 23:02.9, and scoring 19 for TCNJ.
- Finishing sixth and seventh for the Lions were the sophomore duo of Alex Grivas and Savannah Hodgens in 36th and 37th place, respectively. In a photo finish, Grivas's time of 23:36.6 edged out her teammate by just three-tenths of a second.
UP NEXT
The Lions are set to compete in next week's NCAA Championship meet, with start time scheduled for 11 AM.
