Halterman Crowned NAIA Individual Champion in Runner-Up, Record-Time Finish for No. 1 Taylor at National Championships
COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 1-ranked Taylor (113-2) competed at the 45th Annual NAIA Women's Cross Country Championship Friday, and freshman Jaynie Halterman capped her perfect collegiate season by becoming the program's first NAIA Individual Champion in a runner-up, team-time program-record finish for the Trojans.
TU finished with a team score of 93, agonizingly one point behind No. 4 The Master's in the tightest women's cross country championship in NAIA history. The Purple and Grey bested No. 3 Saint Mary and No. 2 Milligan by 32 and 36 points, respectively, in a 35-team field.
All five of the Trojans' contributors to the team score set personal records in the 6k, which led to a final program-record team time of 1:46:30, or over two minutes better than its previous time set on Nov. 8 at the Crossroads League Championships. Notably, that time was also the fastest run on Friday, beating out the team champion, The Master's, by 16 seconds.
Halterman blazed to the top of the podium by completing the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in an NAIA-course-record time of 20:24.7. That time doubles as TU's new program record, and it is the second fastest 6k time run at any course in the entire NAIA in 2024.
The freshman's victory paced her nearly 21 seconds ahead of the runner-up, Hannah Fredericks of The Master's, as Halterman's 20:24.7 is the new top 6k time in NAIA Women's Cross Country Championship history.
Both head coach Quinn White and Halterman herself commented on the freshman's historic performance.
"Jaynie ran an outstanding race. She followed the plan and ran a very fast last 2k to secure her individual title. Her team-first mindset and humility make her individual title even more impressive," said White.
"(Becoming Taylor women's first individual champion) means a lot. It's really an honor and a privilege. I had no idea going into the season that this is how it would play out, and I'm just super grateful to represent Taylor and everything this team stands for," said Halterman.
Ahna Neideck was next in line for the Trojans, as she put a bow on her stellar five-season career by collecting her third NAIA All-American honor with a sixth-place finish. Neideck's time of 21:06.6 crushed her PR by over 23 seconds.
"We are very thankful that Ahna chose to return for a fifth season. From her toughness to her leadership, she brings so many positives to the team," said White. "I've coached a plethora of athletes over my career, and she is one of the grittiest I have experienced."
Noel VanderWall was right behind, crossing in 21:06.9 in seventh place for her PR and third All-American honor as well.
Sam Patterson was one spot shy of an All-American finish, taking 41st out of 326 individuals with a personal record by nearly 30 seconds at 21:50.9.
Kaitlin Burden rounded out the team score by taking 45th individually and crossing in 22:01.9, which also is her personal best by nearly 30 seconds.
Abby Mays raced to 70th overall with a PR of 22:25.0, and Audrey Brinkruff placed 89th by coming in at 22:38.9.
Though disappointed with the runner-up result, White was extremely proud of the team's efforts and six personal records that were set.
"We entered the meet with several goals – many which we set at the beginning of the season. We wanted to honor God by using our gifts to the full. … We wanted to run with joy. … We wanted focus on what we could control and not waste energy on things we couldn't control. We did this exceptionally well. We also wanted to win our second title in three years. Unfortunately, we were one point short," said White, continuing, "We were so proud of their effort, their determination, their attitudes. Don't get me wrong, it hurts to lose by one, but it was joyful to run so well as a whole and feel the Lord's presence when we were out there."
No. 1 TU closes its 2024 campaign under White with the program's fifth straight top-five finish and seventh straight top-six finish at the NAIA National Championships.
