MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Four members of the Carleton College women's track & field program raced on the opening day of the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Helen Cross earned second team All-America recognition after finishing 15th in the 1500-meter run, while Mary Blanchard placed 19th in the same event. Sophie McManus and Hannah Preisser took 17th in the steeplechase and 10,000-meter run, respectively.
 
"I am really proud of these women," said Carleton head coach Donna Ricks. "It has been an amazing year in both cross country and track. Qualifying for the national championships is a tremendous accomplishment. D-III athletes all around have really elevated their performances, and it takes a great deal of commitment and dedication throughout the entire year to make these championships."
 
Cross ran in the faster of the two 1500-meter heats and clocked a time of 4:36.48. This is her second All-America award of the year after finishing 11th in the 3,000-meter run at the 2024 NCAA Indoor Championships.
 
Blanchard, who was a late addition to the 22-runner field after another competitor dropped out earlier this week, placed ninth in the second heat and ranked 19th overall with a time of 4:41.26.
 
McManus was next to take the track at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium and finished the steeplechase in 11:02.33. She took eighth in her heat.
 
Like her teammates, Preisser battled the heat and humidity throughout her event. She was running in 21st place with two miles to go but began moving up. She ended up crossing the finish line at 36:53.54.