Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week
Grace Steinmetz – Bellevue (Neb.)
Sophomore – Council Bluffs, Iowa
Steinmetz continued her dominant sophomore campaign by capturing the individual title at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic Saturday near Ashland, Neb.
She completed the women's 6-kilometer race in 21 minutes, 28.3 seconds, finishing first among 335 runners in a field featuring 40 teams.
Steinmetz established a commanding lead early in the race, holding a 27-second advantage at the 3-kilometer mark (10:20). She maintained her pace throughout the remainder of the competition to secure the individual championship.
Her winning time was just 40 seconds off her course-record performance of 20:48.1 set at the same meet last season.
Steinmetz successfully defended her Blazing Tiger individual title and extended her winning streak to three consecutive races. She remains unbeaten against NAIA competition this season.
This is Steinmetz’s seventh career Erck Hotels / Frontier Conference weekly honor.