Women's Cross Country Posts a Third Consecutive Top-20 Finish at NCAA Championships

Pictured, senior Rebekah Markham

An earlier trip to the Keystone State set an important foundation for the Hope College women's cross country team.

The Flying Dutch used their first-hand knowledge of the course for this year's NCAA Division III Championships in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to rise eight spots from their national ranking and finish 17th on Saturday.

Led by an All-America effort from senior Rebecca Markham, Hope posted its third consecutive Top 20 finish at nationals.

Head coach Mark Northuis said racing on the Big Spring High School Course at the Pre-National Invitational on October 7 set the Flying Dutch up for success.

"Our experience on the course made a difference for us, " Northuis said. "The first K was really tight. The first corner it was imperative to get it. If you get out strong and got to the lead group, you were going to finish in the top group. That's the same way it was for the pre-national meet.

"Then, knowing how to pace ourselves through the middle section — the middle two miles are really hilly — was big. Knowing what to expect really helped us out. We were grateful we were able to do the trip."

The Flying Dutch totaled 467 points and finished ahead of two teams that topped them at the November 11 regional. Regional runner-up DePauw University (Ind.) placed 20th. Regional champion Calvin University was 23rd.

Carleton College (Minn.) won the 32-team event at Big Spring High School with 151 points and edged New York University for the national title by three points.

"We came ranked 24th, so it was nice to finish higher than you were ranked," Northuis said. "Beating Calvin and DePauw was one of our goals. We wanted to come back and show we were the top team in the region. We had really good senior leadership and a really good national championship meet. We were pleased with what happened. Our experience really helped us out."

Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / William Fremd HS) clocked Hope's top 6K time and earned All-America honors.

The MIAA champion bounced back from a disappointing run at regionals to finish 26th with a run of 21 minutes, 36.0 seconds.

"We used the term 'relentless' this week, and that's what she was," Northuis said. "She ran it to the end."

Junior Maddy Struck (Hainesville, Illinois / Grayslake Central) posted the Flying Dutch's next effort with a 95th-place run of 22:26.8.

Senior Olivia Quillan (Grandville, Michigan / Calvin Christian) recorded a 139th-place time of 22:47.6.

Senior Libby Gorman (Traverse City, Michigan / St. Francis) placed 153rd at 22:52.2.

Sophomore Molly Durow (Glenview, Illinois / Glenbrook South) earned Hope's final points after finishing 228th at 23:20.2.

Junior Janie DeGroot (Northville, Michigan / Northville) took 254th at 23:34.9.

Freshman Mary England (Kalamazoo, Michigan / Kalamazoo Central) was 279th at 24:20.3.

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