COLUMBUS, Ohio – Led by Addie Engel with a Top 10 finish, the Ohio State women’s cross country team placed 15th at the 2022 NCAA Championships in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday. The Buckeyes, making their fourth team appearance at the national race, posted the best finish in program history.
Engel, in a personal-best time of 19.50.4, came across the line 10th to earn All-America honors. She is the second Ohio State runner to post a Top 10 finish in the NCAA Championships and the first since Kathy Monard was ninth in 1986. Engel, who won the program’s first Big Ten title this season, earned the fifth All-America laurel in school history.
The Buckeyes posted the best finish among Big Ten teams at the NCAA Championships this year and Engel was only B1G runner in the Top 30. The 2019 Buckeyes finished 23rd for the previous best at the championships, while the 2014 squad was 26th and the 2009 team was 29th.
Quoting Head Coach Sara Mason Vergote
“Addie executed the race perfectly and ran so tough.
“To finish 15th in the country is an incredible accomplishment and I’m so proud of this team.
“The only person who has been to this meet before is Addie, so for all of them to finish this well shows their poise and willingness to fight for each other.
“I’m so appreciative of the support of Eric Brill, my assistant coach, as well as our athletic trainers, nutritionists, strength and conditioning staff and SASSO. It’s been a total team effort this year.”
Women’s 6K Recap
- Engel was in 35th place at the 2.05K mark and steadily moved up. She was in 19th at the 4K mark and then moved to 10th right before 5K, holding that place through the finish line. She ran a 19:50.4, her personal best and the best for a Buckeye in a 6K at the NCAA Championships. Engel placed 66th last year in her first appearance at the national meet.
- Daniella Santos was 61st in 20:22.4, moving up from 90th at the 2.83K mark.
- Andrea Kuhn was third for the Buckeyes, coming across the line in 75th in a time of 20:27.3.
- Engel, Santos and Kuhn were the Top 3 for the Buckeyes in all seven races they ran this season (in that order). Engel was in the Top 10 in all seven.
- Akemi Von Scherr (21:10.2) and Audrey DeSantis (21:50.6) rounded out the Buckeye counters, in 180th and 233rd, respectively.
- Gia Napoleon, who was less than a second off her personal best, and Annie Allen closed out the Buckeye lineup at the national event.
Addie Engel with a Top 🔟 finish at the NCAA…
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