Romeoville, Ill. — Saturday morning, the Southwest Baptist University women's cross-country team competed against 13 teams at the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Championships in Romeoville, Ill. As predicted in the preseason poll, the Bearcats placed second overall in the Women's 6k with a score of 64 just behind Lewis University, the reigning GLVC champions.
 
Showcasing the results of a season of hard work and dedication, the Bearcats placed high with two runners finishing in the top 10. Each runner in SBU's scoring five earned the title of All-GLVC by finishing in the top 20.
 
Gracie Troester, a freshman from Republic, Mo., placed 6th overall with a time of 21:54.53 and was named GLVC Freshman of the Year for being the top freshman finisher in this Championship. Just shortly behind Troester, Olivia Littleton, a graduate student from Smithville, Mo., placed 7th and finished with a time of 21:57.63. Junior Kiersten Potter finished 15th (22:27.04) followed by junior Lily Hunsucker in 16th (22:34.40). Sophomore Natalie Gerdes, winner of two of the GLVC's Runner of the Week awards this season, rounded out the scoring five by finishing 20th overall (22:45.72).
 
Troester who has been a top runner for the Bearcats all season, was the second straight Bearcat to win GLVC Freshman of the Year honors. Gerdes won this award last year and with back-to-back Freshman of the Year winners, the future of SBU women's cross country is bright.
 
Because of today's outstanding performance in the GLVC Championships, the Bearcats will compete in the NCAA Regionals in Kenosha, Wis. on Saturday, November 8. Stay tuned for updates by visiting sbubearcats.com or following our Instagram (@sbubearcats) as SBU's women's cross country team pushes towards the end of their season.