Knepper, Knutson, Althoff lead Mustangs to runner-up finish at conference championships

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Mount Mercy hosted the Heart of America Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Seminole Valley Park, with the women's squad counting three all-conference performers while sending a pair of runners to nationals later this month.

For the first time, the women ran a 6K at the conference meet in preparation for the switch to a 6K race at the NAIA national championships. Mount Mercy was runner-up in the team standings with 77 points. Benedictine cruised to their fourth-straight title with 28 points. Baker was third with 88 points.

Abby Knepper paced the Mustangs, finishing fifth with a time of 22:56.8. J'Lyn Knutson came in seventh in 22:59.7 and Emma Althoff was 11th in 23:19.8. Knepper and Knutson were named first-team all-conference and qualified for nationals while Althoff received all-conference honorable mention and was one spot away from qualifying for the national meet in her freshman season.

Natasha Ortiz won the individual title in 21:48.9. Mount Mercy's lineup also included Kayla Overton (24th/24:18.7), Ruth Jennings (36th/24:56.4), Abby Rinderknecht (39th/25:09.0), Ariana Lopez (48th/25:39.0), and Jessa Day.

The 44th Annual NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship will be contested on Friday, Nov. 17, at 12:30 pm Central Time at Fort Vancouver Historical Site in Vancouver, Wash.