NEWVILLE, Pa.--Senior Maggie St. John competed at the NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday, held at Big Spring High School and hosted by Dickinson College.

St. John was in 232nd place out of 292 runners, covering the hilly 6K course in 23:22.8.   The race concludes an outstanding two seasons for St. John, who has led Keene State to back-to-back Little East Conference Championships in 2022 and 2023, finishing second in both races to earn All-Conference honors.   She has also been an All-Region honoree in 2022 and 2023, finishing 33rd at the 2022 NCAA East Regional Championships, and 14th this year, which qualified her for today's race.

"Anytime you end the season at the national championship, it is a good year," said Keene State head coach Dan Roark.  "Our team made some strides and grew in many ways this year.  Our cross country season puts us in good shape moving forward to indoor track, and for a strong cross country season next year."

Keene State had not had a female qualifier for the NCAA Championship since 2015, when the Owls qualified as a team.  Kait Wheeler, Samantha Goldsmith, Carli Davis, Lindsay Szuch, Molly Schaefer, Katelyn Terry, and Cara Colotti were the Owl racers that day at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winnecone, Wis.   The Owls had not had an individual qualifier since 2014, when Goldsmith qualified.