Kerns sets record, Rio women 6th at IWU Twilight

Rio Grande Sports Information
     MARION, Ind. - Amarissa Kerns established a new school record time and earned a sixth-place finish to lead the University of Rio Grande women's cross country team to a sixth-place finish as well in the Indiana Wesleyan University Twilight Invitational, Friday evening, at the IWU Cross Country Course.
     Kerns, a senior from Lancaster, Ohio, traversed the 6k course in a time of 22:26, a mark seven seconds quicker than the previous school record which she set on Nov. 22, 2024 at the NAIA National Championships.
     The top individual time belonged to Taylor University's Jaynie Halterman, who crossed the finish line in a mark of 20:41.
     Taylor also won the team title, placing five runners in the top 13 and finishing with 38 points. Host Indiana Wesleyan was second (80 pts.) and Marian University rounded out the top three (95 pts.)
     Rio Grande tallied 196 points in a loaded field and finished just outside the top five.
     "We think our team average (23:59) was a school record for the women," said Rio head coach Matt Paxton. "We beat several teams in the national poll, including our defending conference champion (IU East). Shawnee State got us for fifth place, but out of 18 schools and this level of competition, we showed that we are definitely much, much better."
     Sophomore Laura Hamm (South Point, OH) also cracked the Top 20 in a field of 203 competitors, finishing 16th in a time of 23:24.
     Also representing the RedStorm was freshman Marley Kreischer, who was 54th in a time of 24:19; freshman Brandy Shular, who placed 62nd after crossing in 24:32; senior Jayden Roach (Baltimore, OH), who was 87th with a mark of 25:10; freshman Grace Heffernan (Bidwell, OH), who placed 91st with a time of 25:16; freshman Ava Rooker, who placed 99th with a time of 25:21; freshman Briana Nelson, who was 107th in a time of 25:34; freshman Camryn Huck, who took 112th place after crossing in 25:42; freshman Aylah Humphreys, who was 154th with a mark of 26:51; freshman Madison Lejzerowicz, who was 166th after finishing in 27:28; sophomore Rebecca Spohn (New Concord, OH), who was 167th after crossing in 27:32; freshman Josie Hancock, who was 185th with a time of 29:10; and freshman Delana Jenkins, who placed 189th with a mark of 29:33.
     Rio Grande is slated to return to action on Friday, Sept. 19 when it hosts the annual Patty Forgey Invitational.