Coming off a fifth-place placement at the NCAA SEC Championships, Texas women’s cross country placed 31st overall at the NCAA’s meet on Nov. 23 in Madison, Wisconsin. The 2024 NCAA Championships were the Longhorns’ third appearance as a team within the past five seasons.
This was the first time the Longhorns competed at the finals under assistant coach Sarah Smith and as members of the SEC.
Seven Texas individuals contributed to the 829 scored points and, for the third time this season, senior Eva Jess led the team with the most points. Jess contributed 107 points to the team total with her time of 20:45.7, placing 139th overall.
Running her final collegiate race as a Longhorn, graduate transfer Olivia Howell came in second for the Texas team, running for 20:57.8. Howell not only ran her last race with Texas but also with Smith as her longtime collegiate coach. Smith had coached Howell for three years prior at the University of Illinois before coming to Austin earlier this year and the pair reconnected after Howell transferred to Texas.
Junior Elizabeth Pickett was next with a time of 21:20.2, with freshman Sydni Wilkins right behind her recording a 21:30.9. Rounding out the Texas score contributors was junior Brighton Mooney with a time of 21:51.2, graduate Kyra Pretre at 21:57.5 and graduate Elizabeth Stockman recording a 22:28.9.
At the SEC Championships three Texas individuals placed in the top 25 and at South Central Regionals four did. Having no Longhorns place in the top 100 during the NCAA championships was unfamiliar territory for the teams.
As members of the SEC, Texas was one of five teams to earn a spot to compete at the championships. Alabama, Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee represented the conference alongside the Longhorns.
Texas finishes the cross country season ranked 31st nationally and second in the South Central Region behind Arkansas.
Since finishing the cross country season, the athletes prepare to make the transition indoors.
Reflecting on the year prior, the team has a lot of great past scores to aim to beat. Jess achieved her personal best in the 3,000 meter last season with a time of 9:33.07 and Pickett ran her personal best in the 3,000 meter with a time of 9:44.51.
Indoor women’s track and field season will begin Wednesday, Dec. 11 as the Longhorns travel to the Louisville opener next week to kick off the season.
