SALEM, Va.- For one last time in 2025, the EMU Cross Country team laced up their running shoes to compete in the NCAA Division III South Region Cross Country Championships at Green Hill Park in Salem, Va.
For the women's team,
Lauren Kauffman picked up where she left off at ODACs with a great showing, finishing 54th with a 6k (3.73 miles) time of 24:04.50. The senior from Goshen, Ind., wraps up her running career at EMU ranked ninth on the all-time list for the women's 6k with a personal best 23:28.7 at last year's Roanoke XC Invitational.
Olivia Warr of Washington & Lee was the individual champion in a time of 21:00.70, while Emory won the team title with a low score of 42 points.
Highlights
- Team Score: 479 pts. (17th of 26)
- Elili Asefa, another senior runner, was the second Royal across the finish line, placing 74th and completing the course in 25:07.30. Asefa will graduate ranked 14th on EMU's all-time women's 6k list.
- Erin Loker came home in 81st place, traversing the course in 25:12.40.
- Juliette Soos (145th/28:04.90), Zoe Clymer (150th/28:29.10), and Claire Hurst (151st/28:34.80) also ran for the Royals in Salem. Soos and Hurst both ran personal record 6k times, with Hurst beating her previous best by 1:25.
What's Next
That is a wrap on the 2025 season for EMU Cross Country. The Royals' distance runners will take a short break before looking ahead to the indoor and outdoor track & field campaigns.
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.
