TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Columbia College women's cross country team competed at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Men's and Women's Cross Country National Championships Friday morning at Apalachee Regional Park. The women finished 33rd out of 36 teams in the 6k event. 

In her first year with the Cougars, junior Hailey Gerard led the team taking 50th place with a time of 22:17.5. Gerard's finish broke her own record for top 6k time in program history. 

Freshmen, Kari Kemna, Kaylin Patton, and Brenley Webb all made their NAIA National Championships debut. Junior, Xavia Cullers and sophomore Lauren Berhorst both made their second appearances at the NAIA National Championship, and each recorded their best finish at a NAIA Championship race. 

Columbia Order of Finish: 
50. Hailey Gerard - 22:17.5
206. Lauren Berhorst - 23:55.7
223. Xavia Cullers - 24:09.4
283. Kari Kemna - 25:13.1
294. Kaylin Patton - 25:47.9
296. Paige Thielen - 25:51.3

Team Finishes 
1. Taylor (Ind.)
2. Milligan (Tenn.) 
3. Dordt (Iowa)
4. The Master's (Calif.)
5. College of Idaho 
6. Marian (Ind.)
7. Cornerstone (Mich.)
8. Embry-Riddle Arizona
9. St. Mary (Kan.)
10. Grace (Ind.)
11. Indiana Wesleyan 
12. Southern Oregon 
13. Cumberlands (Ky.)
14. Oklahoma City 
15. Kansas Wesleyan 
16. Benedictine (Kan.) 
17. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
18. Aquinas (Mich.) 
19. Montreat (N.C.) 
20. Carroll (Mont.)
21. SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
22. Eastern Oregon
23. Montana Tech 
24. Rio Grande (Ohio)
25. Morningside (Iowa)
26. Lewis-Clark (Idaho)
27. Shawnee State (Ohio)
28.Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
29. Mount Mercy (Iowa). 
30. William Carey (Miss.)
31. Missouri Baptist
32. Governors State (Ill.) 
33. Columbia (Mo.)
34. Haskell Indian (Kan.)
35. Talladega (Ala.)
36. Simpson (Calif.)