BRIDGEWATER, Va.- On a sunny and picturesque day for a run, the EMU Cross Country teams put their training to the test against the best in their conference at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Championships, hosted at Bridgewater College.
Lauren Kauffman had a fantastic performance on the conference stage, finishing 21st overall to earn a spot on the All-ODAC Third Team. She becomes the first Royal to earn an All-ODAC honor since Lucy Unzicker was All-ODAC Second Team in 2023.
Olivia Warr of Washington & Lee repeated as individual champion with a 6k (3.73 miles) time of 21:39.8, helping lead the Generals to a team title with an impressively low score of 21 points.
Highlights
- Team Score: 174 pts. (6th of 8)
- Kauffman finished strong, passing a Lynchburg runner just a few meters from the finish line to snag the final All-ODAC spot. The senior for Goshen, Ind., completed the 6k course in a time of 23:58.6.
- Elili Asefa, a senior from Lancaster, Pa., was the second Royal across the line, finishing 41st in a time of 25:14.9.
- Zoe Clymer, fresh off of qualifying for the national championship for women's triathlon, placed 77th with a time of 28:58.7.
- Claire Hurst (81st/30:30.5), Sarah Wheeler (84th/31:14.6) and Daisy Buller (85th/31:29.8) rounded out the Royals' lineup for ODACs. Wheeler and Buller will join Clymer and Juliette Soos in the Women's Collegiate Triathlon Championships in Tempe, Ariz., next Saturday.
What's Next
The postseason for EMU Cross Country continues with the NCAA South Region Championship at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va., on Saturday, Nov. 15. The meet is set to begin at 11 a.m.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the EMU cross country program this year, follow EMU Athletics on Instagram, like EMU Athletics on Facebook or visit our website.
