App State Women’s Cross Country Team Shines at NCAA Southeast Regional
On Friday, the women’s cross country team from App State competed in the NCAA Southeast Regional, showcasing their strength following an impressive performance at the Sun Belt Championship just two weeks earlier.
The competition featured 34 of the top teams, yet the Mountaineers demonstrated their competitive spirit, finishing in the upper half of the field with determination and drive. They ended the race in 16th place with a total of 425 points, marking their best regional finish since 2015.
Individual Performances Highlight Team Effort
Within the squad, there were notable individual performances, particularly by senior Lauren Johnston, who led the team by finishing 53rd overall in the 6K race with a time of 21:50.7. Senior Jasmine Donohue also delivered a solid performance, finishing the race in 88th place overall with a time of 22:22.7.
Two other seniors, Emma Russum and Lana Farris, joined the ranks of top performers by breaking into the top 100. Russum finished at 93rd overall with a time of 22:27.5, while Farris followed closely in 100th place, clocking in at 22:35.4. They secured the third and fourth scoring positions for the team, emphasizing their strong contributions.
The team’s fifth scorer was true freshman Breanna Budzinski, who concluded her remarkable rookie season with yet another scoring result. Budzinski finished in 112th place overall, completing the 6K race in 22:47.5—advancing 26 spots from her starting position.
Looking Ahead
While the team did not qualify for the national championships, their achievements this season are commendable. With the best regional finish since 2015 and several runners honored on All-Conference teams, App State’s women’s cross country team is now poised to build on this success as they focus on next year.
