Taylor Women Begin Title Defense with Victory in Season Opener

MARION, Ind. – The Taylor women's cross country (12-0) kicked off its title defense with a dominant performance in winning the Indiana Wesleyan Twilight Invitational. 

The meet was a 6k race, as teams prepare for the Crossroads League and NAIA National Championship meet being switched to that distance this season. 

The Trojans posted a minuscule team tally of 20, which put them far ahead of the closest competition, which was No. 10 Indiana Wesleyan at 87. Rounding out the top five team places were No. 8 Huntington (111), No. 18 Indiana Tech (127), and No. 14 Grace (145). 

Taylor was not fazed by the new distance, as they placed four of the top five runners, including the top three headlined by Mollie Gamble grabbing first place with a time of 22:00.90. Gamble was followed closely behind by teammates, Audrey Brinkruff and Noel VanderWall, who placed second and third with times of 22:04.91 and 22:06.10. 

Kaitlin Burden rounded out the top five with a time of 22:30.90 before Lynae Ackley finished in ninth with a time of 22:45.10, granting the Trojans a team time of 1:51:27.91 in its first 6k race.  

Five additional runners for TU placed in the Top-20, with Madelyn Borchelt, Ahna Neideck, Bekah Firestone, Elayna Kitt, and freshman Sam Patterson, all running times under 24:00 minutes for an impressive display for the defending champions. 

No. 1 Taylor will take the course next on Friday, September 15, in Upland for the 2023 Ray Bullock Invitational, set to begin at 5:00 pm.