ST. LEO, Fla. - Senior
Emma Downing represented the Oklahoma Baptist women's cross-country team well as she finished 81
st in the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross-Country Championship in St. Leo, Florida on Saturday morning.
Downing was the lone Bison to compete on the men's and women's side after qualifying for the event with a seventh-place individual finish at the NCAA Division II Regional Championships.
Downing completed Abbey Course in 22:00.0, just a hair slower than her career best in the 6k (21:03.8), achieved at the regional meet two weeks ago.
This is the second time Downing has competed in the Championship as she was a part of 2018 Oklahoma Baptist squad that finished 16
th of 34. She completed the 6k in 25:38.9 that day.
Downing garnered GAC Runner of the Week honors twice this season for placing first at the OBU Invitational (Sept. 4) and 37
th at the Chile Pepper Festival (Oct. 1). She also led the Bison to a fifth consecutive title, earning GAC first-team honors, with a second-place individual finish (17:42.4) in the 5k.
