Trojans Dominate Loaded Field at Bullock Invite

UPLAND, Ind. – The No. 1 Taylor women's cross country team (19-0) continued its dominance on Friday night, topping a loaded field of five ranked teams, four of which were ranked in the top 15. 

A Trio of Trojans came across the finish line simultaneously to secure a second-straight race of having the top three runners. Audrey Brinkruff nipped her fellow teammates, Noel VanderWall and Mollie Gamble, for first place, as all three finished in stride with an identical time of 22:19.9. The fourth competitor to finish also represented Taylor, when Kaitlin Burden finished with a time of 22:40.2. The final scoring member of the Trojans squad was Ahna Neideck, who placed ninth with a time of 23:11.2.

The Trojans finished with a team time of 1:52:50, which is the course record for a women's 6k race. A team score of 19 easily surpassed all opposition, with No. 5 Saint Francis (Ill.) the closest with a team score of 55. Also in the field were No. 8 Huntington, No. 14 Grace, and No. 24 Goshen. 

Taylor had four more runners finish in the top 20, with Madelyn Borchelt in tenth, Lynae Ackley in 14th, and Rebekah Firestone and Elayna Kitt finishing in stride in 17th and 18th. 

The Trojans have not suffered a defeat since finishing fourth at the NAIA National Championship meet in 2021. 

The TU women's cross country team will compete next on Saturday, September 30, in the Louisville Cross Country Classic, with the race set to begin at 11:30 am.