Contact: Adam Poklop, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Results

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 23, 2019) – North Central College women's cross country senior Dianne Barajas closed her career by battling the best runners Division III has to offer at the 2019 Women's Cross Country National Championship, held Saturday at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park. 

Barajas faced less than ideal conditions in the form of an over-saturated course compounded by the recently complete men's race. Despite a slower-than-preferred start that got her caught towards the back of the pack Barajas dug in for the rest of the 6,000-meters, continuing to move up the talented field. By the time she hit the 4-kilometer marker, she had passed nearly 50 runners, ultimately coming through the line in 22 minutes and 59.3 seconds to place 115th among 280 competing athletes.

"That was a really strong race from a very talented runner," said head coach Mahesh Narayanan about his standout senior. "This season she really established herself as a national-caliber athlete and today it was awesome to see that come to fruition, as well as the growth she's displayed since coming to North Central." 

Not wanting Barajas to get overwhelmed at her first National Championship, Mahesh said he gave his athlete a simple race plan: "I told her, 'there are four things I want you to do today: phase one, phase two, phase three and phase four. Your only job is to not mix them up," Narayanan said with a laugh.

Saturday's race closes the books on a season that saw Barajas finish first at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Championship to be named the conference's Female Athlete of the Year and then All-Region honors at the Midwest Regional Championships on Nov. 16 with a tenth-place finish.

Johns Hopkins University won the team championship with 125 points, upsetting second-ranked Washington University (Mo.) who finished with 138 points. Williams College took third with 168 points, while the University of Chicago took fourth. Ithaca sophomore Parley Hannan was the race's individual champion with a time of 20:53.8, gapping second-place by 18 seconds.

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