ELSAH, Ill. - Columbia College sophomore Brianna Haller repeated as conference champion Friday, winning the American Midwest Conference women's cross country individual title at North Farms Cross Country Course.
Haller (Fatima High School) won the women's championship with a first-place time of 18:56.88 in the 5K race, nearly eight seconds ahead of Hannibal-LaGrange's Sierra St. Aubyn.
After the race, Haller was named the AMC women's runner of the year, receiving the honor for a second straight season.
The Cougars finished first in the team standings with 33 points, seven ahead of runner-up Hannibal-LaGrange. With the conference title, Columbia College qualified as a team for the NAIA national championships, which will be held Nov. 22 in Vancouver, Wash.
Columbia College freshman Emma Homfeldt (Calvary Lutheran High School) came in 23rd place out of 83 runners with a time of 20:43.71. Freshman Alyssa Struemph (Fatima High School) added a 39th-place finish in 22:16.90 for the Cougars.
Columbia College was one spot outside this week's NAIA top 25 poll.
Junior Harley Nale (Linn High School) posted the top time for William Woods, finishing in 15th place with a time of 19:44.57. The Owls took fourth in the team standings with 105 points.
Sophomore Alicia Engelbrecht (Helias High School) placed 18th for the Owls with a time of 20:18.68, while sophomore Elizabeth Luebbert (South Callaway High School) was 35th in 21:46.61. Junior Shaley Eichholz (Eugene High School) took 52nd place in 23:46.22.
Hannibal-LaGrange freshman Lindsey Lebel (Linn High School) came in 37th place with a time of 21:52.33.
In the men's race, William Woods and Columbia College tied for first place in the team standings with 42 points. Both teams earn automatic berths to the NAIA national championships.
William Woods junior Hunter Carpenter (California High School) finished 16th out of 92 runners, crossing the finish line in 27:36.81 in the 8K race. Senior Charlie Schattgen (New Bloomfield High School) placed 46th in 30:06.60 for the Owls.
The Owls are ranked No. 23 in this week's NAIA top 25 poll, while the Cougars are receiving votes.
Columbia College sophomore Alex Krieg (Fatima High School) took 24th place with a time of 28:18.34.
Missouri Baptist senior Brian Jordan (School of the Osage High School) finished 44th in a time of 29:45.49 for the Spartans, who were sixth as a team with 157 points.