SAINT LEO, Fla. (Nov. 20, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo women's cross country squad turned in its first performance at the NCAA National Championships since 2016 and brought home a 20th-place team-finish after the historic run.
 
In what was a challenging course, the ThunderWolves had to make some pushes in the second half of the race in order to climb into 20th.
 
"I thought overall it was a good race from our girls," head coach Matt Morris stated. "Everyone was excited to be here and get out on the course. We are a young team with not a lot of experience so I could not be prouder of this team and what they have accomplished this season." 
 
Senior Yasmine Hernandez charged up the final hill and began to make a push up the rankings in the main pack. In the final 1,000 meters, Hernandez put on the afterburners and jumped eight slots to claim 53rd overall off a 21:40.7 time and lead CSU Pueblo's National Championships effort.
 
Placed next for the Pack was junior Claire Pauley in 104th with a 22:15.5 final time.
 
The ThunderWolves' young squad was well-represented next at the finish line. On her first national stage, Margot Thomas-Gatel turned in a strong 22:25.9 final time and claimed 120th in the deep field of 250 runners. 
 
Another freshman, Helen Braybrook, made the second-fastest 1,000-meter push for the ThunderWolves in 3:35.0 and jumped 13 positions in that span to claim a 131st-placed finish off a 22:32.1 compiled time.
 
Senior Hailey Streff finished off her CSU Pueblo cross country career with a 23:12.4 time and crossed the finish line in 181st.
 
Streff was the final scorer for the Pack as she claimed 159 points for the team. The final compilation of scores were 47, 88, 101, 112, and 159 with the points respectively going in order of Hernandez, Pauley, Thomas-Gatel, Braybrook, and Streff.
 
Freshmen Halle Schmitz and Sarah Renberg rounded out the CSU Pueblo national efforts, placing in 205th and 227th, respectively. Schmitz crossed in 23:35.3 while Renberg finished in 24:14.0 to close out the 2021 NCAA National Championships race for the Pack.

Fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member, Adams State University took the national championship title.
 
CSU Pueblo now looks onto the track season following the impressive 2021 campaign which featured the Pack being ranked in the top-10, finishing in the top-eight at NCAA regionals, and three All-RMAC runners.