No. 4 Trojans Eye 11th-Consecutive Crossroads League Championship Title

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UPLAND, Ind. – The No. 4 Taylor (77-4) women's cross country team is hosting the Crossroads League Championships at the Taylor Cross Country Farm in Upland, Indiana, on Friday, November 3.

Dating back to 2013, the Trojan women have won ten league championship titles in a row, and the 2023 Taylor squad will look to push that number to 11 in the first 6k edition of the Crossroad League Championships. 

The new 6k distance has not slowed the Trojans after securing the Red Banner for the NAIA National Championship a year ago. Taylor won its first two races before a solid third-place showing at the Louisville Cross Country Classic, where it finished behind two NCAA Division I schools. 

TU ran under 1:53:00 in each of its 6k races this season and only fell against two NAIA Schools, both of which are ranked in the top 3 in the NAIA rankings, throughout its impressive season.

The trio of Noel VanderWall, Mollie Gamble, and Audrey Brinkruff have led the Trojans this season, each earning the Crossroads League Runner-of-the-Week award this year. All three have multiple top-five finishes and sport one of the top four times for Taylor this year, while Gamble and Brinkruff both won an individual title to begin the season. All three were NAIA All-Americans in addition to All-Crossroads League last season and are hoping to repeat the feat.

Ahna Neideck, Kaitlin Burden, and Lynae Ackley all have a top-10 finish to their name this year as well. Neideck was an All-American last season with a tenth-place finish at the NAIA National Championships. 

With such depth underfoot, the No. 1 Taylor women will look to secure their 11th-consecutive Crossroads League Championship on Friday, November 3. The Trojans are set to compete alongside four fellow NAIA top-25 teams, including No. 12 Goshen, No. 13 Grace, No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan, and No. 22 Huntington.

The winner of the Crossroads League Championships will receive an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships, set to commence in Vancouver, Washington, on November 17. Since 2013, Taylor has made ten consecutive appearances at nationals, where they have finished in the top five on five separate occasions, including winning the National Championship last season.

Parking for fans planning to attend will cost five dollars per person but no more than twenty dollars per vehicle. All students from Crossroads League schools will get in free, and no dogs will be permitted at the course. There will be a live video if the weather allows for those unable to attend at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKAifh1YKjAAi6txM9PJXhw.