TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Oklahoma City women's cross country exceeded its No. 22 ranking to finish 14^th at the NAIA Women's Cross Country Championships on Friday.
 
The young Stars squad was led by senior Erika Pena, who earned All-America honors with her No. 28 finish in 21:51. Pena made a big move just after the halfway mark of the race, jumping up 12 spots from 40^th.
 
Kenzi Readnour placed 95^th at 22:50 and Isabella Gutierrez was 110^th at 22:58. Isabelle Spiller jumped up 20 spots in the final 2000 meters to 147^th at 23:20. Florencia Cabrera finished in the scoring five after passing 54 runners in the final half of the race to place 164^th at 23:27.
 
"Overall, we competed better then what the nation thought we would," said OCU Head Coach Andrew Leahey. "We were ranked 25th-23rd in the nation and we got 14th at nationals! Great performance from our girls and im so proud of them, but it wasn't our best and I like that. Im encouraged that we have something great, and as we continue to fill in those spots i want this girls team to get stronger!"

Also for OCU, Keira Readnour was 179^th at 23:38 and Makenzi DeHart placed 253^rd at 24:35.
 
The Stars finished 14^th with 427 points. Pena, Kenzi Readnour and Gutierrez all finished ahead of Sooner Athletic Conference individual champion Juliana Molina of Texas Wesleyan.
 
Taylor University won the team title behind individual champion Jaynie Halterman, who covered the six-kilometer course in 20:13.
 
The national meet punctuated a great season for the Stars, who captured its second consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference title.