OAHU, Hawaii -- It was a program-best finish for Vanguard women's cross country in its early Pacific West Conference history today as the Lions placed third at the PacWest championships with 95 points.  In addition, the program got its first podium placer, as Ella Murray took silver in a time of 21:46.4, just beating a PLNU runner by .3.  Bethany Mapes of Biola was crowned as the individual winner (21:40.6) as part of Biola's team victory (42 points).

 

The VU All-Conference Honorees with PacWest Commissioner Brad Jones

 
 
What Happened?  Murray becomes the highest conference placer and first podium finisher since Marissa Thompson won the Golden State Athletic Conference race in 2020 for VU.  Because of her placement, she is an All-Conference First Team runner.  After Murray was senior Kate Baranski, who became a back-to-back All-Conference runner with a seventh-place finish at the 21:58.6 mark, easily surpassing her 18th-place finish last year and joining Murray on the First Team.  Lauren Pahl came home in 21st (22:37.3) to just make the All-PacWest list, as she became the final runner to get an individual laurel as a member of the Third Team. 
 
Zoe Tavares was 33rd in a time of 23:12.5, and nine seconds later, Giselle Rubio crossed the line (23:21.9, 36th) to redeem herself after not finishing last year's race.  Madyson Nakamura and Kaitlyn Smith were 40th and 41st, respectively, with finishes of 23:37.3 and 23:39.6.  Hailey Quiroz came home in 53rd after completing the course in 24:22.6, and Haley Butenschoen was next for VU in 62nd after crossing the line as the clock read 24:45.5.  Rounding out the lineup was Isabella Sword, who was 64th with a final time of 25:01.
 
What was Said?  "I'm super proud of our ladies!  Our goal was to crack the top three teams, and they did it," said Head Coach Bryan Wilkins.  "Ella was sensational, finishing second overall among some highly talented women.  Kate ran a stellar race too in seventh, and Lauren was also an All-Conference placer as a freshman.  Very impressive.  Zoe and Giselle really came through for us too in our fourth and fifth scoring spots and played a big role in us finishing third.  I'm just very proud of this team.  I love their enthusiasm, love for one another, and how they handled adversity and a tough, challenging course today."
 
What's Next?  The Lions will send the team (seven runners and one alternate) to the NCAA Regionals, which are on November 8 at the Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon.