TERRE HAUTE, Minn. – Led by Hannah Preisser's All-American performance, the Carleton College women's cross country team finished 18th at the 2024 NCAA Championships.
 
This was the 13th consecutive year that Carleton qualified as a team for Nationals and the 25th time overall.

"Qualifying for the national championships as a team is a tremendous accomplishment, one that we do not take for granted," said Carleton head coach Donna Ricks. "Every team in Division III is striving to be 1 of the top 32 qualifying teams in the country. These athletes train year-round to achieve this goal; it's exciting, rewarding and challenging. Throughout the season we dealt with injury and sickness, along with balancing academics. These athletes persevered, and as a testament to their grit, they finished higher than their national ranking."

Carleton, which entered Nationals ranked No. 21 in the country, posted a team score of 488, which tied cross-town rival St. Olaf College, but the Oles prevailed 3-2 on the tiebreaker to claim 17th place. No, 1-ranked MIT won the team title with a score of 128, besting No. 2 University of Chicago by 10 points. No. 6 (tied) Williams College (155 points), No. 6 (tied) NYU (177), and No. 3 Johns Hopkins (256) rounded out the top-5 teams.

Preisser crossed the line at 21:12.0, placing seventh in the field of 294 runners and earning the 19th all-time All-America honor for the Knights, and she is now a three-time All-American in cross country, joining Clara Mayfield '23 as the only Carleton women to achieve that feat. Preisser finished 15th in 2022 and 14th last season in helping the Knights claim the team title at 2023 national meet. This is the ninth time that a Knight posted a top-10 individual result (see charts below).

"Hannah's accomplishments this season (winning five meets including the MIAC Championships and North Region Championships) and over the past three years at the national championships (three All-America performances) is simply outstanding," said Ricks. "Those statistics speak volumes to her talent and determination. Having a front runner of her caliber has been vital to the overall success that our team has experienced on the course."
 
Sophie McManus and Libby Rowland both competed at the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight year, becoming the fifth and sixth Knights to accomplish that in cross country.
 
As they did last year, all seven Carleton racers finished the competition strong. McManus made the biggest jump, climbing 13 spots over the final 1,000 meters and finished 97th with a time of 22:21.0, notching her third straight top-100 finish at Nationals.

"Sophie went from our fifth runner at Nationals last year to our second this time," said Ricks, "and did an outstanding job all season inspiring her teammates to bring their best effort to every practice and meet day."

Aliya Larsen was next across the line for the Knights, posting a time of 22:40.4 to finish 158th.

"Aliya persevered this season through sickness and a calf strain," Ricks said. "One of the most difficult thing for runners is to take down time and keep things in perspective. she did an outstanding job."

Nora Daley, who had been the Knights' alternate at Nationals in 2023, placed 195th with a time of 22:57.6.

"Nora has grown immensely as an athlete and made a tremendous impact on our team this season," said Ricks. "She also brings good energy and fun each day to practice."

Rowland rounded out the scoring for Carleton, finishing 204th with a time of 23:01.6.

"Libby executed one of the strongest races of her career," said Ricks. "When everything comes together the final race of your cross country career makes it even more special."

Senior Lara Erickson and first-year Kayla Marx both made their first trip to the NCAA Championships. The former was 272nd with a time of 23:56.5, while the latter covered the six-kilometer distance in 23:59.5 to place 275th. "This opportunity to run at Nationals will certainly enhance their athletic careers," noted Ricks.
 
Senior Maggie Votruba served as Carleton's alternate this year.

"Maggie brings the heart and soul to our team and has done an outstanding job leading and bringing this team together," Ricks said.

"I am so proud of these four seniors (McManus, Rowland, Erickson, and Votruba)," Ricks said. "It has been an amazing journey. They have been instrumental in this team's success every step of the way. It has been a joy to watch them compete and grow as individuals throughout their athletic career. There are so many wonderful memories! As they took the senior photo at the finish line, it was bittersweet. It is difficult to imagine this team without them. Their impact will be felt for years to come. They did a tremendous job working together and guiding their teammates each day in practice." 

 
Carleton Women's Cross Country All-Americans
1981   --   Terry Jensen (22nd place) --  AIAW All-American
1987   --   Shelley Scherer (1st place)
1987   --   Anna Prineas (7th place)
1988   --   Anna Prineas (1st place)
1989   --   Elizabeth Carpino (13th place)
2004   --   Cassie Funke (22nd place)
2009   --   Simone Childs-Walker (11th place)
2009   --   Laura Roach (25th place)
2014   --   Ruth Steinke (4th place)
2015   --   Ruth Steinke (5th place)
2017   --   Meg Mathison (6th place)
2019   --   Amanda Mosborg (13th place)
2019   --   Clara Mayfield (30th place)
2021   --   Clara Mayfield (10th place)
2022   --   Clara Mayfield (3rd place)
2022   --   Hannah Preisser (15th place)
2023   --   Hannah Preisser (14th place)
2023   --   Phoebe Ward (16th place)
2024   --   Hannah Preisser (7th place)
 
Carleton Women to Race Four Times at NCAA Cross Country Championships
Simone Childs-Walker (2008-09-10-11)
Alison Smth (2008-09-10-11)
Ruth Steinke (2012-13-14-15)
Samantha Schnirring (2015-16-17-18)
Sophie McManus (2021-22-23-24)
Libby Rowland (2021-22-23-24)