Louisville, KY - The University of the Cumberlands women's cross country team tackled one of the most competitive fields of the fall at the Louisville Classic, finishing 21st out of 31 teams in the Women's Gold 5K race with 561 points. Comprised mainly of NCAA Division I and II programs, the race presented the toughest challenge of the meet. 

Lea Kunstmann led the Patriots with a strong performance, crossing the line in 18:09.8 to place 81st overall. She holds the fastest time of any Pat this season and ranks among the top 15 fastest times in program history. 

Close behind was Patrober Kosgei who finished 105th in 18:25.6. Brynn Poulson also contributed a key 114th-place finish of 18:31.0, keeping the scoring pack tight and competitive. 

Rounding out the scoring five, Tigist Bergman (145th, 18:47.9) and Elisa Helferich (196th, 19:18.1) provided critical support, helping the Patriots remain consistent across all scoring positions. 

The team's depth was further highlighted by Anslee Crosby (19:43.0) and Clayra Darnell (19:48.1). Overall, UC's top five finishers were separated by just 1:08, reflecting strong pack running and teamwork. 

Among NAIA programs, Cumberlands finished ahead of Olivet Nazarene and Montreat, asserting itself as the top small-college team in the field. 

The Patriots will return to competition at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge on Friday, October 24, in Knoxville, Tennessee, as they continue preparations for the postseason. 

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