FROM STAFF REPORTS

JOPLIN, Mo. – The University of Montevallo women’s cross-country team finished 20th in team standings at the NCAA Division II National Championship 6K race at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course on the Missouri Southern State University campus Nov. 21.

The 20th-place finish marked the Falcons’ best performance in the event in their third appearance in the National Championship.

The Falcons featured three individuals in the top 100 in individual standings, led by sophomore Sierra Millsaps, who finished 62nd overall among scoring runners with her time of 22:00.8. Millsaps’ time marked the fifth-fastest 6K time recorded in program history.

Millsaps, who finished 78th overall in individual standings, finished 57 seconds behind individual champion Alexis Zeis of the University of Mary (N.D.) in the 6K race. Adams State University captured the team championship.

Fellow sophomore Hannah Evans finished 69th among scoring runners (86th overall) with her time of 22:06.8, which marked the seventh-fastest 6K time recorded in program history.

A third sophomore, Katie Nelson, came in 82nd among scoring runners (102nd overall) with her time of 22:14.1. Junior Katherine Terino finished 128th among scoring runners (149th overall) with her time of 22:42.4.

Junior Anna Leinheiser came in 146th among scoring runners (167th overall) with her time of 22:50.9, completing the top five for the Falcons in the National Championship.

Fellow junior Cheyenne Thompson finished 153rd among scoring runners (175th overall) with her time of 22:55.3. A third junior, Natalie Shoemaker, rounded out the contingent of Montevallo runners with her time of 23:59.6, which placed her 200th among scoring runners. Shoemaker finished 225th overall in individual standings.

The Falcons wrapped up a historic 2015 season with five team championships during the year, including back-to-back Peach Belt Conference Championships and NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championships.