DANVILLE, Ala. – (Results) Blue Mountain Christian Women's Cross Country claimed the 2023 Southern States Athletic Conference 6K Championship here Saturday winning with 46 points, and Catherine Truemper won the individual conference title.
In just her second collegiate season, Truemper blew away the field in a time of 22:17.73 to lead the Lady Toppers to the championship and punching their ticket to the NAIA National Championship.
"This is a big moment for our program, and I couldn't be prouder of these young ladies," BMCU head coach Phillip Laney said.  "They have worked so hard to get to this point, and it paid off in a big way."
The championship gives Laney his third SSAC title and his fourth overall.  His first came in the now defunct TransSouth Conference.
Freshman Harley Garner showed out in helping her team, as she crossed the line in 10^th in a time of 23:38.04.
Landing in 12^th, 13^th and 14^th were Makayla Blessike at 23:49.28, Katie Meeks at 24:03.70 and Ami Sherif at 24:03.91.
Aubrey Britt would finish 21^st in a time of 24:42.31, Lexie Faulkner was 38^th at 26:33.41, Angel Wright finished 46^th at 27:31.07, Morgan Ellis was 52^nd at 28:33.44 and Leah Montgomery was 58^th at 29:32.85.
BMCU would run by state rival William Carey who finished second and UT-Southern who finished third.
"We knew coming into this that we had a really good shot to win it and our girls responded with one of their best races of the season.  I'm thankful for this group and can't wait for them to compete at Nationals."
The SSAC would also hand out its end-of-the-year awards at the event, and the Lady Toppers would rack up, starting with winning the SSAC Sportsmanship Award.  Truemper, Garner, Blessike, Sherif and Meeks were all named SSAC All-Conference.
Garner would be named to the All-Freshman Team, while Truemper, Britt, Meeks, Wright, Emma Laney, Kirsten Hitt, Jolee Doss and Morgan Ellis were all named to the Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team.  Meeks was named Blue Mountain's representative on the Champions of Character Team.
Finishing off the awards were two big ones, as Laney would be named the Women's XC Coach of the Year and Truemper would be named the Runner of the Year.
"It's very humbling to be named the Coach of the Year in our conference," Laney said.  I am blessed to be a part of such a special program.  I love doing this because they are such a great group.  It is such an honor and I thank God for giving me the gift of coaching both teams."
The Lady Toppers will now head to Vancouver, Wash. November 17 to compete for a national championship at Fort Vancouver Historical Course.
 
 
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