Steinmetz Runs to First Frontier Conference Championship
BILLINGS, Mont. -- Bruin freshman Grace Steinmetz continued an outstanding debut campaign at today's Frontier Conference Cross Country Championship when she ran away with the women's individual championship. From the gun, it was just the lead vehicle and Steinmetz separating themselves from the rest of the pack at Amend Park in Billings, Mont., on an ideal day for cross country with temperatures in the mid-40s and little wind. Steinmetz crossed the line over a minute ahead of the runner-up as she clocked an impressive time of 21:03.6 in the field of 84 runners.
Eleven full teams competed at the inaugural "new" Frontier Conference championship meet, which brought teams from the former North Star Athletic Association into the fold. The Bruin women finished in a respectable sixth position as a team after being picked to finish last in the pre-season poll. Behind Steinmetz was junior Maggie Boley, crossing in 23:34.1 for 22nd place. The third and fourth scorers for the Bruins, in 55th and 56th positions, were junior Alicia Rivera Camargo and freshman Wren Hofacket, finishing in times of 25:50.3 and 25:56.0, respectively. The Bruins' final scorer was freshman Lydia Cherotich, placing 66th in 27:09.7. Ashley Guatemala-Ortiz followed close behind in 69th and 27:43.1. Rounding out Bruin runners were juniors Cloey and Emily Usher, finishing in 73rd and 77th places in times of 28:53.5 and 31:07.9, respectively, with Emily Usher cutting over a minute from her season best.
The Bruins were also recognized for their achievements off the course, as Maggie Boley was awarded the Frontier Conference Champion of Character. Two Bruin women, Alicia Rivera Camargo and Ashley Guatemala-Ortiz, were recognized for their academic achievements as they were named to the Women's Cross Country All-Academic squads.
Head Coach Craig Christians: "We moved the program forward this year, and with the entire squad returning next year, I think that's a trend that will continue. We had a team goal of finishing in the top five at the conference, and although we just missed it by a few points, I'm proud of what we accomplished. It's a nice group of hard-working women, and it's been fun having a full team at every meet. The emergence of Grace as a national contender has been an unexpected highlight. She's run relatively untested for a few meets, so it'll be fun to have her go toe-to-toe with the top women at nationals."
Steinmetz will train for two more weeks before traveling to Tallahassee, Fla., for the 2025 NAIA National Championship on November 7 at Apalachee Park. The Bruins have had success on that course previously, as Madison Nelson earned a cross country All-American honor in 2022.