TERRE HAUTE, IN. – It was a late-night start for the Wesleyan women's cross country team as they competed in the twilight race of the NCAA Pre-National Championship on Friday night, placing eighth out of 44 teams. Five Cardinals placed in the Top 100 overall with junior Stephanie Ager '26 finishing in the Top 5.

With the Cardinals finishing eighth (261), MIT (56) won the event and were followed by University of Chicago (145), DePauw (206), Washington University (208), Connecticut College (241), Pomona-Pitzer (258), UC Santa Cruz (260), George Fox (297), and Wisconsin-Whitewater (330). Wilmington's (Ohio) Faith Duncan won the event at 21:02.79. The Cardinals placed ahead of No. 19 nationally ranked George Fox as well as No. 18 Central College. 

"It was a great performance by the women's team at the D3 Pre-National Championships," said head coach Leo Mayo. "It's a testament to the work our returners and first-year athletes have been putting in every day. Steph Ager had a great race. She made a decision to run with the top pack throughout the race and was able to set her race up with a strong finish."

Ager once again led the Cardinals in their third race of the season as she cleared the finish line at 21:41.14, placing her fifth out of 389 runners. Ager placed 67^th at the 2023 NCAA D3 Championship last fall.

Jordan Walter '25 cleared the Top 50 as she clocked a final time of 22:22.29, placing 36^th.  Following Walter in 61^st place, Alexandra Weingard '28 ran a 22:46.05 in her first Pre-National Championship race. Margaret Stevens '27 placed 83^rd as she crossed the line with a time of 23:02.04. Finishing 99^th in her first Pre-National Championships race, Virginia Lessner '28 clocked a time of 23:16.14.

The Cardinals return home from Indiana for the James Early Invitational Saturday, Oct. 12, with the race beginning at 10 a.m.