TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Oregon Tech's Saundra Parsons posted the best finish by a Lady Owl individual qualifier to the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships in program history, placing 54th in a field of 333 competitors at Apalachee Regional Park.
 
The junior, who was the fourth and final individual qualifier from the Cascade Conference, clocked a six-kilometer time of 22:19 – surpassing the 60th-place finish by Andrea Nations in 2003. It was the best finish for an OIT women's runner since Faith Widman took 36th overall during both the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
 
"What an outstanding race from Saundra," said head coach Mike Anderson. "It is so difficult to compete alone, without your teammates. Saundra stepped up and raced so well."
 
Parsons, who placed 13th at the CCC Championships, finished eighth among CCC competitors.
 
Taylor (Ind.) claimed the team title over Milligan (Tenn.), with College of Idaho in fifth, Southern Oregon in 12th, Eastern Oregon in 22nd and LC State in 26th.