MARION, IN. – The University of the Cumberlands women's cross country team opened the 2026 season with a sixth-place finish at the IWU Twilight Invitational on Friday night. The Patriots totaled 140 points in the 16-team field, placing four runners inside the top 40 overall.
 
Freshman Jule Krauss made an immediate impact in her Patriot debut, leading UC across the line in ninth place. Krauss covered the 5K course in 19:28.00 to secure nine points for Cumberlands.
 
A pair of experienced Patriots followed inside the top 30. Heather Durrant clocked a 19:51.70 to place 26th overall and 25th in the team scoring, while Elisa Helferich was just five seconds behind her, crossing in 19:56.40 for 28th overall and 27 scoring points.
 
Brianna Hillock added another strong debut for the freshman class, finishing 37th in 20:08.00. Anslee Crosby completed the scoring five with a 20:21.30 effort to place 47th overall, giving the Patriots their fifth runner across the line less than 54 seconds after Krauss.
 
UC continued to show depth behind its scoring group. Tigist Bergman finished in 20:27.10, followed closely by Rylee Schaffner at 20:33.71 and Christie George at 20:37.30. Gracie Reed also broke the 21-minute mark with a 20:55.60 performance.
 
Emma Quillen (21:03.40), Lucy Sullivan (21:09.30), Bella Rechtin (21:28.70), Hope Boa (21:30.80), Molly Beckham (21:55.10), and Courtney George (23:15.30) rounded out the Patriot finishers.
 
Cumberlands finished just six points behind fifth-place Indiana East and placed ahead of Shawnee State, Huntington, Cumberland (Tenn.), Lindsey Wilson, and Midway among the NAIA programs in the field.
 
The Patriots return to action on Friday, Sept. 18, when they travel to Jacksonville, Alabama, for the Southern Showcase.
 
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