November 16, 2024
Smurla Wins NCAA Metro Regional; Greyhounds Finish Fifth in Team Standings
GALLOWAY, N.J. --- The Moravian University women’s cross country squad finished fifth of 25 teams in the 2024 NCAA Division III Metro Regional Championship hosted by Stockton (N.J.) University Saturday morning.
GALLOWAY, N.J. --- The Moravian University women's cross country squad finished fifth of 25 teams in the 2024 NCAA Division III Metro Regional Championship hosted by Stockton (N.J.) University Saturday morning.
How It Happened
- The Greyhounds had a team score of 155 points while Rowan University finished with 81 points to edge Swarthmore College by five points and earn the region's automatic berth to the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championships
- Junior Tara Smurla won the individual title, finishing first of the 182 runners in a personal best time of 21:40.8 on the 6,000-meter course, taking 15 seconds off of her PR. Smurla earns All-Region honors for the third straight year and a trip to the national championships for the second consecutive fall
- Smurla is Moravian's fourth NCAA Regional individual champion, joining Heidi Wolfsberger, who won in both 2000 and 2001, and Tracy Wartman, who was the regional champion in 1994
- Senior Amber Poniktera garnered her fourth straight All-Region honor as she placed 27th in 23:25.7 while senior Rachael Goodman finished 37th in a time of 23:45.2
- Rounding out the top five scoring runners for the Greyhounds were junior Tori Champagne in 49th place in 24:13.6 and sophomore Kayla O'Neil one spot back in 50th in a time of 24:15.0
- Sophomore Alexis Hockenberry finished in 69th with a time of 24:48.0 while sophomore Alyssa Hockenberry placed 89th in 25:21.5
Up Next for the Greyhounds
- Saturday, November 23 at 2024 NCAA Division III National Championships hosted by Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., 11:00 a.m.
