Women's cross country wins first national title for Madonna
By Brett Hebel and Luisa Wiewgorra
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[email protected]
The women’s cross-country team and Tony Floyd from the men’s cross-country team traveled to Vancouver, Wash., for the 40th Annual Women’s and the 64th Annual Men’s Cross-Country National Championships. On Friday, Nov. 22, the women’s team participated in the 5k race and Floyd in the 8k, finishing with a National title and runner up finish.
“It was such an amazing feeling to win and be a part of the team that won,” said Murphy, a Nursing major.
After winning back to back Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championship titles, where most of the top 7 had run their fastest race of the season, the team looked forward to a great opportunity.
“The goal this season was to win nationals, primarily because we got second last year. It was a large goal but there is no reason we could not do it,” said Mackenzie Gurne, a Dietetics major. “‘If other teams could do it then so can we.’ That was the mindset we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season.”
“The goal I had for my team was to be National champions, so the whole season was about making it happen,” said Kateri Mills, a Nursing major.
In 2016, the team qualified for the NAIA National Championships for the first time in program history. 2018 and 2019 are the only years Madonna Cross-Country has ever won a WHAC title.
“It was awesome to win our second WHAC championship especially because of how the race went down. We had not really talked about sticking together the whole race, but it kind of just happened and we packed up which made it so much easier and so much more meaningful,” said Murphy.
Now, the same group from three years ago is the first national champion in the 33-year history of Madonna athletics.
“Our assistant coach, Devin, kept refreshing the score on his phone and as soon as they came in and we finally saw that we had got first, it was the coolest feeling ever,” said Murphy. “We all screamed and hugged each other, and other teams and coaches were already coming up to us to congratulate. I cannot imagine sharing that moment with any other team.”
“It honestly still feels surreal to call myself a member of a national champion team, and I will always remember the moment when we found out and immediately piled into a group hug full of smiles and happy tears,” said Allison Shapic, a Biology major. “It was awesome to take home both titles and on top of that to be the first team ever in school history to do so.”
The women’s team outshined all expectations, as they competed against 36 other teams. Murphy led the Crusaders with a 14th place with a time of 18:22.1.
“The beginning of the season was really hard for me because I was recovering from an injury that kept me out the entire outdoor track season,” said Murphy. “My first couple meets back were way harder than I had ever anticipated because I had not raced since March. However, my team was so supportive and helped me get back to where I was last year, and it was like I never even took time off. So, even though the season did not start how I wanted it to, it finished exactly how I wanted it to.”
Shapic finished right behind Murphy with a time of 18:23.5.
“Even though I was a leader in this race, it really was a group effort and winning the title couldn't have been accomplished without everyone giving 100% effort,” said Shapic.
Gurne placed 16th with a time of 18:24.7 and all three of them, Murphy, Shapic, and Gurne, received All-American honors.
“Being an All American again is great, and I am so happy my two teammates were able to be an All American with me,” said Shapic.
Also, Kathleen George finished 38th with a time of 18:48.7, while Caroline George completed the race in 46th with a time of 18:56.2. Mills completed the team with a 68th place finish with a time of 19:09.3.
WHAC Newcomer of the Year, Erin Seibert, placed 64th with a time of 19:07.0.
“Erin, as our only freshman, has been the best freshman we could have asked for personality-wise and running wise. She is an amazing runner and such a motivator and I cannot wait for next season with her,” said Murphy.
Floyd is a four-time Cross-Country All-American, who participated in the NAIA National Championships in all four years placing 11th, fourth, third, and now second.
“It feels good being able to end my cross-country career with a runner up finish,” said Floyd, a Sports Management major. “I worked hard all season to be able to compete to the best of my ability at nationals and I am happy knowing I gave everything I had.”
This year, he finished second with a time of 24:43.0, only 3.5 seconds behind national champion, Mark Shaw, of Oklahoma City University.
“Finishing so close behind first place was a good and a bad feeling. It was good because it was a hard-fought race that went down the last few feet of the race, but it also was frustrating because first place was so close to me and I did not have enough energy to catch him,” said Floyd. “I was happy with my race, but still disappointed that it did not turn out the way I had hoped. I was hoping I would win.”
This season was the last cross-country season at Madonna University for Gurne, Shapic, and Floyd.
“It went by super-fast like it always does. But I constantly reminded myself to just take everything in,” said Gurne. “This sport is so genuine and there is no doubt I am going to miss the process. Showing up to practice every day; seeing Daugherty every day; having people to push me to do things I never thought I could do. Those are everyday things I am going to miss.”
The team’s key to success is the support they are giving each other daily.
“We always push each other to be the best we can be,” said Murphy. “When someone is having a bad workout, we try to make them feel better and know that it is okay to have bad days and I know we have all been on that receiving end. I am so proud of my team and everything that we have accomplished together.”
“I am so thankful and happy to be a part of this team because to me, it is more than just how we run, but more about how we are family,” said Mills.
[email protected]
[email protected]
The women’s cross-country team and Tony Floyd from the men’s cross-country team traveled to Vancouver, Wash., for the 40th Annual Women’s and the 64th Annual Men’s Cross-Country National Championships. On Friday, Nov. 22, the women’s team participated in the 5k race and Floyd in the 8k, finishing with a National title and runner up finish.
“It was such an amazing feeling to win and be a part of the team that won,” said Murphy, a Nursing major.
After winning back to back Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Championship titles, where most of the top 7 had run their fastest race of the season, the team looked forward to a great opportunity.
“The goal this season was to win nationals, primarily because we got second last year. It was a large goal but there is no reason we could not do it,” said Mackenzie Gurne, a Dietetics major. “‘If other teams could do it then so can we.’ That was the mindset we set for ourselves at the beginning of the season.”
“The goal I had for my team was to be National champions, so the whole season was about making it happen,” said Kateri Mills, a Nursing major.
In 2016, the team qualified for the NAIA National Championships for the first time in program history. 2018 and 2019 are the only years Madonna Cross-Country has ever won a WHAC title.
“It was awesome to win our second WHAC championship especially because of how the race went down. We had not really talked about sticking together the whole race, but it kind of just happened and we packed up which made it so much easier and so much more meaningful,” said Murphy.
Now, the same group from three years ago is the first national champion in the 33-year history of Madonna athletics.
“Our assistant coach, Devin, kept refreshing the score on his phone and as soon as they came in and we finally saw that we had got first, it was the coolest feeling ever,” said Murphy. “We all screamed and hugged each other, and other teams and coaches were already coming up to us to congratulate. I cannot imagine sharing that moment with any other team.”
“It honestly still feels surreal to call myself a member of a national champion team, and I will always remember the moment when we found out and immediately piled into a group hug full of smiles and happy tears,” said Allison Shapic, a Biology major. “It was awesome to take home both titles and on top of that to be the first team ever in school history to do so.”
The women’s team outshined all expectations, as they competed against 36 other teams. Murphy led the Crusaders with a 14th place with a time of 18:22.1.
“The beginning of the season was really hard for me because I was recovering from an injury that kept me out the entire outdoor track season,” said Murphy. “My first couple meets back were way harder than I had ever anticipated because I had not raced since March. However, my team was so supportive and helped me get back to where I was last year, and it was like I never even took time off. So, even though the season did not start how I wanted it to, it finished exactly how I wanted it to.”
Shapic finished right behind Murphy with a time of 18:23.5.
“Even though I was a leader in this race, it really was a group effort and winning the title couldn't have been accomplished without everyone giving 100% effort,” said Shapic.
Gurne placed 16th with a time of 18:24.7 and all three of them, Murphy, Shapic, and Gurne, received All-American honors.
“Being an All American again is great, and I am so happy my two teammates were able to be an All American with me,” said Shapic.
Also, Kathleen George finished 38th with a time of 18:48.7, while Caroline George completed the race in 46th with a time of 18:56.2. Mills completed the team with a 68th place finish with a time of 19:09.3.
WHAC Newcomer of the Year, Erin Seibert, placed 64th with a time of 19:07.0.
“Erin, as our only freshman, has been the best freshman we could have asked for personality-wise and running wise. She is an amazing runner and such a motivator and I cannot wait for next season with her,” said Murphy.
Floyd is a four-time Cross-Country All-American, who participated in the NAIA National Championships in all four years placing 11th, fourth, third, and now second.
“It feels good being able to end my cross-country career with a runner up finish,” said Floyd, a Sports Management major. “I worked hard all season to be able to compete to the best of my ability at nationals and I am happy knowing I gave everything I had.”
This year, he finished second with a time of 24:43.0, only 3.5 seconds behind national champion, Mark Shaw, of Oklahoma City University.
“Finishing so close behind first place was a good and a bad feeling. It was good because it was a hard-fought race that went down the last few feet of the race, but it also was frustrating because first place was so close to me and I did not have enough energy to catch him,” said Floyd. “I was happy with my race, but still disappointed that it did not turn out the way I had hoped. I was hoping I would win.”
This season was the last cross-country season at Madonna University for Gurne, Shapic, and Floyd.
“It went by super-fast like it always does. But I constantly reminded myself to just take everything in,” said Gurne. “This sport is so genuine and there is no doubt I am going to miss the process. Showing up to practice every day; seeing Daugherty every day; having people to push me to do things I never thought I could do. Those are everyday things I am going to miss.”
The team’s key to success is the support they are giving each other daily.
“We always push each other to be the best we can be,” said Murphy. “When someone is having a bad workout, we try to make them feel better and know that it is okay to have bad days and I know we have all been on that receiving end. I am so proud of my team and everything that we have accomplished together.”
“I am so thankful and happy to be a part of this team because to me, it is more than just how we run, but more about how we are family,” said Mills.