Columbia Wins Fifth Consecutive Women's Cross Country Title
November 5, 2021
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Cougars continued their reign on top of the American Midwest Conference, winning their fifth consecutive women's cross country championship while collecting their sixth individual champion in Peri Welch.
Welch dominated the rest of the competition, posting the fastest 5K time in the conference all season with a 18:07.04 to earn her the Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
Mikayla Sehlmeyer (19:10.18), Jada O'Donnell (19:12.52), and Kyla Bertschinger (19:14.16) played strong roles in the championship as well, coming in fourth, seventh, and eighth, respectively, to earn a spot on the all-conference team. With the victory, the Cougars have earned a spot for their team at the NAIA National Championships.
Just two points off the champion was William Woods University. The Owls posted the second, third, and fourth place finishers in Ellie Dimond (18:48.71), Harley Nale (18:54.86), and Alicia Engelbrecht (19:00.36). All three will head to Vancouver, Washington on November 19 for the NAIA National Championships, along with fellow individual qualifier Emily Bayer from Missouri Baptist.
2021 AMC Women's Cross Country Awards:
Runner of the Year: Peri Welch, Columbia
Newcomer of the Year: Nani Brewington, Missouri Baptist
Freshman of the Year: Peri Welch, Columbia
Coaching Staff of the Year: Columbia
2021 Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team
Peri Welch, Columbia
Ellie Dimond, William Woods
Harley Nale, William Woods
Alicia Engelbrecht, William Woods
Mikayla Sehlmeyer, Columbia
Emily Bayer, Missouri Baptist
Jada O'Donnell, Columbia
Kyla Bertschinger, Columbia
Mekayla Gibson, William Woods
Mia Reed, Missouri Baptist
NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships Team Qualifier:
Columbia College Cougars
NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships Individual Qualifiers:
Ellie Dimond, William Woods
Harley Nale, William Woods
Alicia Engelbrecht, William Woods
Emily Bayer, Missouri Baptist
AMC Champions of Character Team:
Ally Swaim, Central Baptist
Emma Homfeldt, Columbia
Elle Hudelson, Hannibal-LaGrange
MiKayla Sherrill, Health Sciences & Pharmacy
Claire Wilber, Lyon
Isabel Rinkenberger, Missouri Baptist
Kimi Putnam, William Woods
Mikey Larson, Williams Baptist
Welch dominated the rest of the competition, posting the fastest 5K time in the conference all season with a 18:07.04 to earn her the Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year awards.
Mikayla Sehlmeyer (19:10.18), Jada O'Donnell (19:12.52), and Kyla Bertschinger (19:14.16) played strong roles in the championship as well, coming in fourth, seventh, and eighth, respectively, to earn a spot on the all-conference team. With the victory, the Cougars have earned a spot for their team at the NAIA National Championships.
Just two points off the champion was William Woods University. The Owls posted the second, third, and fourth place finishers in Ellie Dimond (18:48.71), Harley Nale (18:54.86), and Alicia Engelbrecht (19:00.36). All three will head to Vancouver, Washington on November 19 for the NAIA National Championships, along with fellow individual qualifier Emily Bayer from Missouri Baptist.
2021 AMC Women's Cross Country Awards:
Runner of the Year: Peri Welch, Columbia
Newcomer of the Year: Nani Brewington, Missouri Baptist
Freshman of the Year: Peri Welch, Columbia
Coaching Staff of the Year: Columbia
2021 Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team
Peri Welch, Columbia
Ellie Dimond, William Woods
Harley Nale, William Woods
Alicia Engelbrecht, William Woods
Mikayla Sehlmeyer, Columbia
Emily Bayer, Missouri Baptist
Jada O'Donnell, Columbia
Kyla Bertschinger, Columbia
Mekayla Gibson, William Woods
Mia Reed, Missouri Baptist
NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships Team Qualifier:
Columbia College Cougars
NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships Individual Qualifiers:
Ellie Dimond, William Woods
Harley Nale, William Woods
Alicia Engelbrecht, William Woods
Emily Bayer, Missouri Baptist
AMC Champions of Character Team:
Ally Swaim, Central Baptist
Emma Homfeldt, Columbia
Elle Hudelson, Hannibal-LaGrange
MiKayla Sherrill, Health Sciences & Pharmacy
Claire Wilber, Lyon
Isabel Rinkenberger, Missouri Baptist
Kimi Putnam, William Woods
Mikey Larson, Williams Baptist