ST. PAUL, Minn. – The No. 11-ranked Carleton College women's cross country cruised to the team title at the 2025 MIAC Championships, winning the Knights' 14th crown overall and ninth over the last 12 conference meets.
 
The Knights totaled only 30 points, well ahead of runner-up No. 29-ranked St. Olaf. The 50-point margin of victory was the largest at the MIAC Championships since 1993 and the fourth-largest in conference history (see chart below).
 
"I am extremely proud of this team," said Carleton head coach Donna Ricks. "They are talented and hardworking athletes. We had an opportunity before us; if we were going to win, we would have to race smart and earn it.
 
"The entire team put forth their very best efforts today and throughout the entire season. Though only five athletes score, the entire team matters and is instrumental in the overall win of the MIAC Championships by the support they give one another every day at practice."
 
Carleton put four runners inside the top-10 and had six racers collect All-MIAC recognition (top-15 finish). This is the sixth time since 1995 that any program has had six or more top-15 finishers, and each time it has been Carleton squad to do so (see chart below).
 
The Knights were paced by first-year Claire Vukovics (21:21.4) and senior Hannah Preisser (21:23.7), who finished first and second, respectively. This is the ninth time since 1995 that a team has had its runners go 1-2 at the MIAC Championships, with Carleton duos accomplishing the feat in 2011 (Simone Childs-Walker and Alison Smyth), 2017 (Meg Mathison and Emily Kaegi) and 2025 (see chart below).
 
Vukovics is the only Carleton first-year to win the MIAC Championships and the first rookie for any school to win the MIAC Women's Cross Country Championship race since 2013. Her time of 21:21.4 is now the fifth-fastest 6K time in recorded MIAC Women's Cross Country Championship history, while Preisser's 21:23.7 is the sixth-fastest.
 
Next across the line for the Knights was senior Aliya Larsen, who placed seventh at 22:03.9 and earned All-MIAC status for the third consecutive year.
 
Rookies Lauren Tittel, Amelia Campbell, and Nicole Peterson finished ninth, 11th, and 15th, respectively. Tittel covered the distance in 22:20.5, while Campbell finished at 22:21.9, and Peterson completed the race at 22:48.5.
 
First-year Louise Ruzanic placed 28th at 23:15.6, while sophomore Shemsy Lewis-Mussa was 29th with a time of 23:21.4. A total of 169 runners ran in this year's conference meet.
 
"We are a young team, with strong leadership up front from upperclasswomen Hannah Preisser and Aliya Larson," said Ricks. "They have been instrumental in guiding the team in workouts and packing up in meets.
 
"Having five of our top-seven as first-years is exciting. We have only been together for two months, and we are still growing and learning together. Across the team, there is a great deal of potential."
 
Preisser and St. Olaf's Lauren Walda became the 15th and 16th women to earn All-MIAC status four times in cross country. Preisser is the fifth Knight in that select group (see chart below).
 
Up Next for the Knights
Carleton heads to the NCAA North Region Championships to be held Saturday, Nov. 15 at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis.


Largest Margins of Victory at MIAC Championships
56  --  1993  --  St. Olaf 38, Carleton 94
54  --  1983  --  St. Thomas 38, Concordia 82
53  --  1984  --  St. Thomas 22, Concordia 75
50  --  2025  --  Carleton 30, St. Olaf 80
 
6+ All-MIAC performers on one team at MIAC WXC Championships
7  --  2017  --  Carleton
7  --  2013  --  Carleton
6  --  2018  --  Carleton
6  --  2019  --  Carleton
6  --  2022  --  Carleton
6  --  2025  --  Carleton

Carleton runners to win MIAC Championships individual title
1987  --  Shelly Scherer
1988  --  Anna Prineas
2011  --  Simone Childs-Walker
2014  --  Ruth Steinke
2017  --  Meg Mathison
2019  --  Amanda Mosborg
2024  --  Hannah Preisser
2025  --  Claire Vukovics
  
1-2 finishes at MIAC Championships
1995  --  St. Thomas  --  Liisa Johnson and Kara Bloomquist
1996  --  St. Thomas  --  Heather Phillips and Melissa Schuch
1997  --  St. Thomas  --  Felly Faris and Heather Phillips
2008  --  Bethel  --  Marie Borner and Alex Potter
2010  --  St. Olaf  --  Maren Westby and Emma Lee
2011  --  Carleton  --  Simone Childs-Walker and Alison Smyth
2013  --  St. Olaf  --  Noelle Olson and Jorden Johnson
2017  --  Carleton  --  Meg Mathison and Emily Kaegi
2025  --  Carleton  --  Claire Vuckovics and Hannah Preisser
 
Four-time All-MIAC Honorees (16)

Athlete, School	Years
Kelly Faris, St. Thomas	1997-99-00-01
Laura Bloedorn, Carleton	1999-00-01-02
Megan Daymont, St. Olaf	1999-00-01-02
Nichole Petersen, Gustavus	2001-02-03-04
Leah Wurm, Saint Benedict	2002-03-04-05
Katie Theisen, St. Thomas	2005-06-07-08
Erin Lowrey, Macalester	2006-07-08-09
Kelly Russ, St. Thomas	2006-07-08-09
Simone Childs-Walker, Carleton	2008-09-10-11
Emma Lee, St. Olaf	2009-10-11-12
Erin Statz, St. Thomas	2010-11-12-14
Ruth Steinke, Carleton	2012-13-14-15
Kimber Meyer, Macalester	2013-14-15-16
Samantha Schnirring, Carleton	2015-16-17-18
Hannah Preisser, Carleton	2022-23-24-25
Lauren Walda, St. Olaf	2022-23-24-25