Kylie Bridenhagen/Winonan

For the first time in program history, the ladies of the Winona State University cross country team will be running together at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships. This is an incredible feat for the entire team, as well as for head coach, Adam Boothe.

This is the first season that Boothe has used his expertise in distance running to head the women’s cross country team. For the previous two seasons, he has helped raise the team to where they stand today—tenth in the nation by the U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Pre-NCAA Championships poll.

The last race leading up to Nationals was the NCAA Central Regional Championships, where the team ran was ranked second. “It’ s hard not to be happy with the fastest team in school history!  They came in ranked second in the region and held onto that ranking,” said Boothe about the team’s overall performance at the Regional Championships.

Leading up to the final race of the season, the Warriors will run one or two more workouts, in order to prepare them for one more race.

Boothe is hoping for a top 13 finish. “The goal is always to go into the race and do better than your ranking. I know they are capable of a top 10 finish, and I think they know that too. What’s more important is that they don’t focus too much on the finish. What’s gotten them to where they are is just worrying about what they can control each step of the race.”

The most consistent and top runner of the season thus far is Winona native, Jessica Young.

In only her second collegiate cross country season, Young has already recorded five top 20 finishes, including the individual title at the SMU Alumni Invitational earlier this season.

Placing eighth overall at the Regional Championships, she said, “I ran with all of my heart and to the best of my abilities. God gave me the strength and a smile every step of the race. I couldn’t have asked for anymore than that.”

Being a part of the first ever national-qualifying team, Young feels lucky. “I am so blessed to be a part of such a talented team that is making such a difference in Winona State history,” she said.

Going into the last race of the season, Young hopes to “place as well as, if not better, than we are ranked (10th). I have faith we can all run even faster with even more heart at Nationals.”

For her individual performance, she hopes to finish in the top 20-40.

Jordan Skelly, also a sophomore runner, has been one of the top runners for the season. Skelly has four top 20s this season as well, with her best finish being third at the first meet, the SMU Alumni Invitational.

Going into Nationals, she said, “We have done well at every meet this year, and nationals is going to be no different. We all want to improve our time, and bring our team average time down to re-break the record.”

For Skelly, running at Nationals as part of this revolutionary team is a blessing, and exciting.

“I am honored to be given the opportunity to run with these girls and represent Winona. We are so pumped to be able to make school history together, and it couldn’t have been done without each and every one of the members on the team,” she said.

Senior, Kayla Gudmundson, and sophomore, Chelsea Schrubbe have also recoreded multiple top 20 finishes.

Gudmundson has five on the season. Her best finish was second at the SMU Alumni Invitational. Schrubbe, has three, with a sixth place finish at the SMU Alumni Invitational being her individual best finish.

With this season being the most successful in program history, Boothe is feeling the excitement, but as always, he will be thinking ahead to seasons to come.

“The goal for me is to build a program that’s in the hunt for national titles for years to come. This is just the first step on that path.”

Look for the Warriors at their last race and their first National performance on the big stage on Nov. 17 in Joplin, Missouri.

Contact Kylie at [email protected]