Cross country will conclude its unexpected season at the NAIA National Championship.

The women’s cross country team left for their journey to nationals on Tuesday along with Mathew Keitany from the men’s cross country team. The women’s team consists of Ella Armstrong, Mercy Chebet, Stephany Claudio, Caroline Jelimo, Marin

Kauffman Smith, Britney Ortega and Teresa Ross Richer. The championship will take place in Columbia, Missouri and they will race on Friday. 

This is the second time the women’s team has ever qualified to nationals after  the  Leafs’ “impactful,” season,

in the words of Coach Lisa Voyles. Last year was a groundbreaking year for the Leafs when they made their first-ever appearance on the national stage. 

The team lost  four  All-Americans last spring after they graduated, leaving many of the athletes to

step up this year. 

Marin Kauffman Smith, first-year on the team, said that her

teammates had a “fire and

a passion,” to qualify this year. 

“We knew we had to do a lot more work,” said Britney Ortega, a senior. Her

teammate, Stephany Claudio, a senior, spoke on the “relief,” the women’s team felt after their qualification had been confirmed. 

When asked about the nerves for the race, Ortega said, “It can either overwhelm you, or you can take it as excitement and perform off of it.” Coach Rustin Nyce described the team’s sense of “self efficacy, the belief in yourself in a task that you’re going to succeed.”

 The men’s team did not make it to this year’s nationals even though they have had a strong season

and have had some huge improvements. 

Nyce shared that “it’s not a bad thing to be unsatisfied, if you’re willing to work to become satisfied.” Voyles added “our greatest setbacks are just a setup for an even greater comeback.” 

Mathew Keitany, however, booked his place in nationals. He said, “I feel good that I made it, but I’m not fully satisfied knowing I’m the only one going from the men’s team.” 

There will be a watch party open to the public

on Friday from 11:15 a.m. until 1:15 p.m. in the Koinonia Room at College Mennonite Church for fans to go and show their support.