Kaumba Caps Cross Country Career Claiming Consecutive Crowns

Mirriam Kaumba did all she could as a cross country athlete, capping her two-year Oklahoma Baptist University fall career by successfully defending her NAIA national championship.

Kaumba finished the race in 16:53.70, trimming 20 seconds off of her time from last season and beat runner-up Evelina Slatinska by nearly 49 seconds. It was the second-best championship time in NAIA history.

Her championship, however, did not deliver a team trophy as the OBU women finished below their No. 5 ranking in sixth place. The top four teams are presented team trophies. The OBU men finished 24th.

Kaumba's is the second repeat this young century. Emily Mondor won it in 2001 and 2002 for Simon Fraser. Kaumba's time was just the third sub-17:00 in the meet's history. The other two were turned in by Simon Fraser champions with Mondor holding the record at 16:43 in 2002.

Also for the OBU women, Kelsey Engstrom was 39th at 18:44.65, Katie Engstrom was 139th at 19:42.30, Becka Brock was 109th at 19:45.45 and Kyta Ferrer finished the scoring in 134th at 19:57.9. OBU's Katy Rader was 155th at 20:27 and Chandra Huckabay was 222nd at 20:56.

OBU's team total was 290. Simon Fraser won with a score of 95, followed by Concordia, Neb., at 291, British Columbia at 161, Malone at 218, and Azusa Pacific at 247.

The women's field included 28 teams and 258 runners.

OBU's men finished 24th, a disappointment based on their No. 20 ranking and the fact that they finished behind Southwestern Kansas, which the Bison had beaten this season. Virginia Intermont won the meet with 54 points.

Daniel Ellis paced OBU in 64th place at 26:19.95 with Theron Stoltzfus hot on his heels in 70th at 26:23.

Landon Willets was 168th at 27:30, David Matushak was 183rd at 27:39 and Cole Tunnell rounded out the scoring Bison in 199th at 27:51. Also for OBU, Jacob Wright was 235th at 28:40 and Nathan Battershell was 244th at 29:03.