COLUMBIA, Mo. – The No. 13 Penn State women's cross country team placed 10th in the nation at the 2025 NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championships at Gans Creek Cross Country Course on Saturday morning. Nick Sloff of the men’s team posted a 132nd overall result in his first championships appearance.
“What a day - top ten in the NCAA!” said Coach John Gondak. “It was an impressive race in how they kept battling and moving up each kilometer – from 21st place at 1K to finish 10th. I am very proud of this team, coaching staff, and support staff that helped us have our best season in over 30 years,” said Gondak.
Gondak also said, “Nick had a great race for his first NCAA experience. He had had an amazing season and earned great experience that help us get the full team back at the NCAA Finals next year.”
The 10th place finish is the best NCAA Championships finish for the Nittany Lions since the group placed 9th in 1994.
WOMEN’S 6K RACE
In Penn State’s third consecutive NCAA Championships appearance, the group’s 10th place finish was five places higher than a season ago, and 21 spots higher than the 2023 result. Florence Caron finished 14th overall, improving upon her 19thplace finish a season ago and earning back-to-back All-America honors. She becomes the first Nittany Lion earn consecutive All-American finishes since Bridget Franek in 2008 and 2009. Caron’s 14th place finish is also the highest finish for a Nittany Lion in 25 years, matching Susanne Heyer’s 14th-overall finish in 2000.
Charlotte Costich followed behind Caron, running a personal best 19:55.2 to finish 93rd as the second Nittany Lion in the top 100. She was followed by Ada Rand (116th, 20:01.8) rounding out PSU’s top three. Claire Daniels placed 119th while Allison Dougherty finished 156th for Penn State.
No. 1 NC State won the team National Championship with 114 points, followed by No. 2 BYU with 130 points, and No. 6 Oregon with 153 points. Alabama’s Doris Lemngole won the individual championship, running an 18:25.4.
PENN STATE WOMEN’S TOP SEVEN RESULTS (10th – 406 points)
Place (Points) Runner Time
14 (13) Florence Caron 19:00.6 PR
93 (78) Charlotte Costich 19:55.2 PR
116 (95) Ada Rand 20:01.8
119 (97) Claire Daniels 20:02.7
156 (123) Allison Dougherty 20:17.4
178 Lea Hatcher 20:25.9
221 Claire Zubey 20:49.4
MEN’S 10K RACE
In his first NCAA Championships appearance, junior Nick Sloff finished 132nd overall in the men’s 10K championship race. Sloff’s finish is the highest by a member of the Penn State men’s team since Matt Fischer placed 78th in 2013. Sloff’s appearance was the second Nittany to qualify in the past two seasons, following Brian DiCola in 2024.
No. 1 Oklahoma State won the team NCAA Championship with 57 points, followed by No. 3 New Mexico with 82 points, and No. 2 Iowa State with 158. Habtom Samuel won the individual title, running 28:33.9.
PENN STATE MEN’S RESULTS
Place (Points) Runner Time
132 Nick Sloff 29:49.2
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