No. 4 Trojans Set to Compete at the NAIA National Championships

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UPLAND, Ind. – After collecting its 11th-consecutive Crossroads League Championship title, No. 4 Taylor is focused on the NAIA National Championships, beginning on Friday, November 17, in Vancouver, Washington.

As Champions of the Crossroads League, Taylor secured one of the 24 automatic qualifying bids, with four Crossroads League joining the Trojans as qualifiers.

Taylor (86-4) had four of the top five runners at the league meet on the way to a commanding victory in which no team was within 45 points. 

Mollie Gamble notched a second-place finish at the league meet and has been in the top two for the Trojans in each of its 6k races this season. The senior has collected a top-ten finish in each of the 6k races, as she has adapted to the new distance nicely. 

Noel VanderWall and Audrey Brinkruff have joined Gamble in the top three forming a terrific trifecta of Trojans at the top. Each has collected a Crossroads League Runner-of-the-Week Award after an individual title this year. 

Ahna Neideck and Kaitlin Burden have each recorded multiple top-ten finishes this season, with the Trojans stockpiling 19 of them this season coming from seven athletes. The depth of the Trojans has been showcased by 30 top-20 finishes from 10 athletes. 

No. 4 Taylor has only finished behind two NAIA schools throughout the season in a race where TU was not at full strength. The Trojans had a season-best time of 1:50.16, while VanderWall holds the individual program record for a 6k, with a time of 21:07.5.

The Trojans are making their 11th-straight appearance at the NAIA National Championships, where TU has placed in the top five on five occasions, including a runaway National Championship last year to secure the Red Banner.