TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— The Montreat College women's cross country team competed on Friday at the 2025 NAIA Cross Country Championship at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. Running at nationals for the sixth consecutive year, the Cavaliers capitalized on Heather Murphy's program-best finish at the national meet to conclude 19^th out of 36 squads.
 
Altogether, Montreat finished 19^th in the team standings with a total 500 points. The Cavs were surrounded by Saints as the Aquinas College Saints finished one spot ahead of the Cavaliers with 458 points and the Caroll College Fighting Saints were one spot behind Montreat with 506 points. Taylor University won the team championship with 90 points.
 
Individually, Murphy led the charge, finishing in third place with a time of 20:46.1. She was awarded with All-American honors for her top-40 finish. Her third-place effort was the best individual finish at a national meet in Montreat program history, surpassing her own fourth-place finish from 2024's event.
 
"It felt amazing because I was consistent," Murphy said. "At each meet this year I was improving my placements and my times, so overall, I am proud with how I did."
 
Junior Macy Parks just missed capturing All-American status claiming 42^nd place with a time of 22:03.2. Behind her, Carlyn Bobo was 126^th. Her time of 23:08.8 placed her inside of the top 100 scorers at the meet.
 
Elena Fibraio completed her event in 232^nd with a time of 24:15.7. Ragan Speer was next in 258^th with a mark of 24:39.7. Senior Anna Baugh finished 279^th and completed her Montreat cross country career with a time of 25:11.3. Emily Standifer, another senior, ended in 290^th, clocking in at 25:31.7.
 
"Our women ran incredibly," said head coach Rylan Hincher. "They were about as good as they could be today. They have executed at a high level over the last two meets and have gotten so much better since the first meet of the year."
 
For the entire list of results from the 2025 NAIA Cross Country Championship, click here.
 
With the 46^th annual edition of the national championship meet officially over, the Montreat College women's cross country team now focuses its attention on the 2026 indoor track & field schedule.