JOPLIN, Mo. – Senior Emma Downing led the Oklahoma Baptist women's cross country team with a seventh-place individual finish at the NCAA Division II Region Championship on Saturday. Downing completed the 6K course in 21:03.8, the fastest of all individuals participating from the Great American Conference.
As a squad, OBU finished 13th, turning in placings of 7-48-49-47.
Behind Downing was freshman Sophia Strange, who crossed in 22:14.1, good for 48th overall. Kayla McGruder finished shortly afterward in 49th (22:14.3), while Anna Kathleen Harris rounded out the Bison's top 100 at 97th (23:06.1).
Others competing for OBU were Alexzandria Jaimz (161st), Kaylen King (168th), and Berkley Price (169th).
The NCAA will announce at-large selections to the NCAA Championship meet on Monday. The 2021 NCAA Division II National Championship meets will be held Nov. 20 in Tampa, Fla. Downing has the opportunity to be selected as an individual for the NCAA Championships, having placed highly among individuals of non-qualifying teams.
