Three PRs on Record-Setting Day for SMC Women's Cross Country
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The final chapter of the first season of NAIA action came to a close at the 2024 NAIA Women's Cross Country Championships at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course for the Spartanburg Methodist College women's cross country team on Friday.
The Pioneers – Audrey Noel, Sophia Outhous and Averi Vance – put their names into the history books as individual qualifiers at the championship. Each of them secured a spot at the championship with their performance at the recent 2024 Continental Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships, last Friday.
"Sophia, Audrey, and Averi have set the tone for Pioneers in the future," said SMC head coach Peyton Shelton. "This is program that is building momentum, and our first national qualifiers are proof of that. I am so proud of these young ladies and the progress they have each made throughout their time at SMC."
Outhous wrapped up her sophomore campaign as the top finisher for SMC, covering the 6k course with a PR in 23:23.2 for 173rd place. For the Irmo, SC native, it is a PR of 1:19.
The next Pioneer across the line was Noel, who put the finishing touches on a strong first-year runner for SMC. Noel also set a PR by 1:32 with a time of 23:32.5 to finish 189th.
The third runner was Vance, who concluded her sophomore season with a time of 27:25.2 for the third PR on the day for the Pioneers by 1:53 en route to a 312th-place finish.
