Mustangs Secure Top-10 Team Finish at Notre Dame Meet

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — The Mount Mercy University women's cross country team recorded a balanced effort Friday at the National Catholic Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame, placing five scoring runners in the top 90 of the women's 5K field.

Abby Knepper led the Mustangs with a 29th-place finish overall and a team score of 21. She crossed in 18:44.4, averaging 6:01 per mile and maintaining consistent splits through the 1K, 3K, and 4.5K marks.

Close behind was Kalin Rotzoll finishing in 20:02.30 to place 54th overall and score 40, followed one second later by Kayla Overton, who crossed in 20:03.9 to claim 55th overall and score 41.

Annabelle Neal, who ran 20:47.4 for 75th overall, added to the team score with 58. Maria Dudzik clocked 20:51.5 for 77th overall and a score of 59. 

Mount Mercy's scoring five posted a 1:19 split from Knepper to Dudzik. The Mustangs averaged 20:06 across their top five runners and posted a cumulative team score of 219, securing sixth place in the team standings. The race fielded more than 20 programs across NCAA and NAIA competition levels.

The invitational marked Mount Mercy's first major meet of the fall, pitting the team against nationally ranked NCAA Division I and II programs, and provided a valuable midseason benchmark. The Mustangs demonstrated competitive pack integrity with three runners finishing within 10 seconds of each other between 20:02 and 20:12.

Mount Mercy returns to competition Saturday, October 4th, as they host the Seminole Stampede at Seminole Valley Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, starting at 9:30 a.m. 

Mount Mercy Women's 5K Results

•    29. Abby Knepper, 18:44.4 (21 pts)

• 54. Kalin Rotzoll, 20:02.3 (40 pts)

• 55. Kayla Overton, 20:03.9 (41 pts)

• 75. Annabelle Neal, 20:47.4 (58 pts)

• 77. Maria Dudzik, 20:51.5 (59 pts)

Team Score: 219 (6th place)