FORT DODGE, Iowa - With the top finish among KJCCC teams, the Butler women finished 10th overall at the NJCAA National Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Lakeview Municipal Golf Course.
The Grizzlies, who won the Region VI title back on Oct. 31, emerged as the top Jayhawk Conference squad on the national stage by edging Barton and Allen County in the overall standings. Butler scored 337 points, while Barton (346) and Allen (371) placed 11th and 12th, respectively.
Lansing, Mich., took home its first national title with 92 total points, while host Iowa Central was runner-up with 135 points. Central Arizona (193), Gillette, Wyo., (228) and Mesa, Ariz. (252) rounded out the top five teams.
Butler was led individually by freshman Sheila Samoei, who placed 40th with a 19:41.79 time on the 5K course. Janie Salinas crossed the finish line as the Grizzlies' second runner under 24 seconds later, placing 49th overall at 20:05.02.
Kayla Davis (20:11.68) and Ariente' Sims (20:11.93) crossed the line together placing 53rd and 54th, respectively. Veronica Sowder was Butler's fifth top runner with a time of 21:36.94 and finishing 161st overall. Kimberly Travis (186th, 21:52.22) and Tesla Madsen (243rd, 23:03.10) rounded out the rest of the Grizzly squad.