Women Cross Country Places 32nd in Nationals

The Ottawa University Women Cross Country team finished thirty-second in the NAIA National Championship meeting on Saturday Nov. 23. The 5K race took place in the Rim Rock Farm course in Lawrence, Kan.

Junior Chelsea Fullerton, who finished in 207th with a time of 20:13.26, led the Lady Braves.

Freshman Jordan Calderwood ran it in 20:02.57 to earn the 246th place, senior Jena Richardson did it in 21:37.96 to finish 291st and junior Makayla Wilkins in 22:02.57 to end up in 304th place.

Junior Janelle Bailey finished in 22:04.25, earning the 306th place, junior Brittany Harrington ran it in 22:07.52, for the 307th place and freshman Hannah Jaloma closed it up for Ottawa with 22:07.52 to finish 307th.

The freezing weather affected the participants of the race. Chelsea Fullerton said that it was definitely a cold race for her. “I didn’t quite meet my goals for the race, but I felt like I still gave my best effort and I am still happy with how it turned out,” she said.

Jordan Calderwood, who was in her first national as a college athlete, said she was really excited to have the opportunity to be there with her team. “I am pleased with how I ran considering the weather and my injuries this year,” she said.

Janelle Bailey said that she was really excited about being able to compete in nationals, even though she admitted this wasn’t her best race.

About the course, Bailey said that she was familiar with it because she ran there in high school. “I believe Rim Rock is great to run as a National Championship course because it provides a challenge with the hills and dynamics, but it is beautiful and is purely a cross country course,” she said.

Calderwood, who also ran there in high school, said she loved it. “They changed it some for nationals. There were some tough up hills but once you got over them, there were nice long down hills that I was able to use to my advantage,” she said.

Fullerton also talked about the hills. “The course was great, a couple of the hills were killer, but it was very pretty and in my opinion a fun course to run,” she said.

Later, she compared this experience with the one she had in nationals last year. “This course was tougher than last years’, more exciting. The main difference was sharing it with the team and having so many spectators there to watch. I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she said.

About the season in general, Calderwood said she didn’t know what to expect, but that overall she was happy with her performance. “I have time to improve and work on the things I want to. This season was possible thanks to the support of my team and coaches,” she said.

Fullerton said she wasn’t disappointed, but that she didn’t meet a couple of the goals she had set for herself. “Overall it was an awesome season and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out for the team.”

Finally, Bailey said she was satisfied with her season. “I am so proud of my team and glad that we could send (senior) Jena Richardson out on a good note in the last cross country season of her career,” she said.