The Blackburn College Women’s Cross Country team competed in the SLIAC Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, October 29. With no seniors on the race roster, the young team finished in fifth place in the conference, representing the best finish for the women’s team since 2017. In addition, the team received the Team Sportsmanship Award, which was the first time the women’s team received this special award in program history. Team captain, Olivia Leemon, received the individual Sportsmanship Award for the women’s team.

The SLIAC championship meet was the first time this season that the women’s team competed at the 6,000-meter distance. Sophomore, Olivia Leemon, completed the season as the top women’s finisher at each meet, placing 17th with a time of 30:27.8. Junior, Liz Morris, established herself as the #2 runner on the team this season and placed 24th. Freshman, Sarah Olson, emerged as the #3 runner over the course of the season and finished in that position at the championship meet. Junior, Nicky Valverde, who battled shin splints throughout the season finished fourth for the Beavers. Finally, junior, Brianna Bruemmer, edged out freshman, Michaela Moulton, to provide the final score for the team.

Coach Al Sturgeon said, “I am enormously proud of the women’s team. We are a young team, and other than Olivia an inexperienced team when it comes to cross country, and it was a significant accomplishment just to survive a season together! With the base we have established, we can make enormous strides forward by adding a few top recruits to our roster. But more importantly, receiving the Team Sportsmanship Award for the first time in program history means so much to us. Led by their team captain, our women’s team maintains a positive attitude and is intentional when it comes to showing respect for others. That makes me the most proud!”