November 1, 2025
Greyhounds Capture First Landmark Conference Title Since 2013
CLARK, N.J. --- The Moravian University women’s cross country squad captured its first Landmark Conference Championship in over a decade as the Greyhounds won the 2025 title at Oak Ridge Park with Drew University as the host Saturday afternoon.
CLARK, N.J. --- The Moravian University women's cross country squad captured its first Landmark Conference Championship in over a decade as the Greyhounds won the 2025 title at Oak Ridge Park with Drew University as the host Saturday afternoon.
How It Happened
- The Hounds posted a team score of 39 points while The Catholic University of America was second with 65 points and The University of Scranton placed third with 65 points
- The title was the first for Moravian since 2013 and the third Landmark Conference title for the program with the Blue & Grey winning in 2011 as well. The Greyhounds have a total of 13 conference championships
- Senior Tara Smurla captured the individual title with a first place finish in the field of 98 runners with a personal best time of 21:26.65 on the 6,000-meter course. Smurla won Moravian's fifth individual Landmark Conference Championship and first since Natalie Novotni captured back-to-back titles in 2018 & 2019
- Senior Meghan Myers finished seventh with a PR time of 22:55.73 while junior Kayla O'Neil placed ninth in a PR time of 23:09.21 and freshman Kate Veivia was one spot back in tenth with a PR time of 23:11.31
- Senior Kierstyn Klingner rounded out the Moravian scorers with a 12th place finish in a PR time of 23:14.83 while freshman Kiley Amend finished 16th in 23:46.56
- Junior Alyssa Hockenberry placed 20th with a time of 24:13.39 while senior Tori Champagne took 23rd in 24:20.65. Freshman Lexi Liddell finished 43rd at a time of 25:07.50 while senior Sarah Rice was one spot back in 25:09.37
- Freshman Kate Vickers recorded a PR time of 25:26.81 while junior Alexis Hockenberry took 51st at 25:31.24
- Rounding out the Moravian runners were sophomore Celia Knoedler in 55th at 25:56.70, sophomore Caroline Emmerich at 70th in 26:52.02 and freshman Lachlyn Timms in 75th at a PR time of 27:37.22
Quotable from Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Jesse Baumann
- "We've been waiting for the team to have a complete race all season, and today it happened. Tara had another amazing day with a lifetime PR and earning a Landmark XC title, something she's been in contention for now for a few years. However, our depth was the key to the day. Our #2-7 runners all went out controlled in the top 15 in order to be in a spot to be reactive during the race, but also conserve energy for later in the race. A little after the mile mark Meghan Myers started to push up through the field and Kayla, Kate, and Kierstyn all followed suit going with her and moving into All Conference positions. We had some injury concerns and some illnesses, especially with Tori, so it was crucial to have Kiley and Alyssa having great days so we had a buffer for if any other issues came up. Our program has been extremely close over the past decade, including two runner-up finishes by just one point since 2021, so it was gratifying for the alums and athletes who were so close recently to finally breakthrough. It was an incredible race, and with this being the first time since 2011 that both teams won on the same day, it was truly a great day to be a 'Hound!"
Up Next for the Greyhounds
- Saturday, November 15 at 2025 NCAA Division III Metro Regional Championship hosted by Rowan University
- Saturday, November 22 at 2025 NCAA Division III National Championships, Roger Milliken Center, Spartanburg, S.C. (if qualify)
