Rye Posts Top-200 Placing at Nationals

Tallahassee, Fla.--Claire Rye (Fr., Plymouth, Iowa, Biology) faced off against the nation's best on Friday as she competed in the 46th Annual NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship.

Overall, the freshman placed 195th in a 6K time of 23:49.8 in her first experience at nationals.

Taylor (Ind.) claimed the team national championship on the Apalachee Regional Park course with 90 points, while runner-up Milligan (Tenn.) challenged with 109 points.

The Trojans took the sweep of crowns as Jaynie Halterman was first (333 runners) in 20:13.2, winning by 30 seconds.

Rye was consistent throughout the morning, beginning by sitting in 162nd place after 1,170 meters (4:14.2).  At the 3K mark, the freshman dipped to 201st, but she moved herself back into the top 200 by the end of the competition.

"Claire ran within herself early and did not make the race any bigger than it was," Graduate Assistant Coach Caleb Silver said.  "We knew coming in that it was going to be a battle with hills on the backstretch.  She had to fight sickness all week, but used the race as good experience for the future.  She gave everything she had today, and I could not be more proud of the way she persevered all season.  To be in the top 200 in her first national meet as a freshman is not easy."