TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The No. 10-ranked Washington and Lee University women's cross country team capped an impressive season with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday. Competing at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, the Generals scored 298 points, marking the best team finish in W&L cross country history.

Sophomore Olivia Warr garnered All-America status, the fifth All-America laurel in program history, by being the ninth runner to cross the finish line in a time of 21:13.5. Ninth place matches the second-best individual finish in program history. Warr delivered a standout performance by being able to get out in front of the field early. The sophomore jumped out into the top pack and was in 18th place at the 1K checkpoint before moving through the field to secure a top-10 finish. Warr's consistent pacing and strong second half helped her finish ninth overall with a time of 21:13.5, scoring eight points for the Generals.

Junior Sophia Breschi overcame being pushed back out of the start and made an impressive climb throughout the race. Sitting in 171st place after the first checkpoint, Breschi gained 113 spots over the course of the race to finish 58th overall and score 45 points. Her steady progression through the middle and late stages of the race provided crucial support for W&L's team score.

No stranger to the national stage, L1 Cassie Carr brought stability to the lineup with her consistent effort throughout the race. Positioned in 167th place at the 1K mark, she held her ground during the middle stages and gradually moved forward, ultimately finishing 86th overall and scoring 65 points. 

Sophomore Lydia Harvey delivered a breakthrough performance, moving up 72 places from her 1K position to score in the Generals' fourth slot. Harvey's effort through the final kilometers helped her finish 123rd overall, scoring 88 points. 

Senior Emma Mitchell made a dramatic surge in the latter stages of the race to secure the team's fifth and final scoring position. Positioned in 194th at 1K, Mitchell improved by 66 places to finish 128th overall and score 92 points. 

W&L SCORING FIVE

• 9th overall, 8 points – Olivia Warr (SO): 21:13.5
• 58th overall, 45 points – Sophia Breschi (JR): 22:00.7
• 86th overall, 65 points – Cassie Carr (L1): 22:16.0
• 123rd overall, 88 points – Lydia Harvey (SO): 22:29.5
• 128th overall, 92 points – Emma Mitchell (SR): 22:31.0
• 201st overall – Mimi Kemp (SR): 23:00.6
• 253rd overall – Kristen Clodgo (SR): 23:37.1

RACE HIGHLIGHTS

• The Washington and Lee women's cross country team finished in 8th place at the NCAA Division III Championships, scoring 298 points. The team's top five runners maintained a spread of 1:17.6, highlighting their consistency. The Generals averaged a 6K time of 22:06.2 across their top five finishers.
• Sophomore Olivia Warr led the Generals with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, clocking a time of 21:13.5 and earning 8 points. Her standout season included titles as ODAC Individual Champion, ODAC Runner of the Meet and Runner of the Year, South Region Runner of the Year, and South Region Individual Champion, culminating in All-America honors while contributing to W&L's league and regional championship team titles.
• The 8th place finish is the second-best in ODAC and W&L history, behind only Josephine Schaeffer '06, who took 8th in 1993. Warr ties Schaeffer with the second-best inidividual 
• All five scoring runners placed inside the top 128 (top 100 point scorers), with the team's strong mid-race surges propelling them from 21st at 1K mark to an eighth-place finish.
• Cassie Carr, Emma Mitchell, Mimi Kemp and Kristen Clodgo wrapped up their collegiate cross country carrers and provided pivotal contributions.
• The team finish is the second-highest in conference history, only the 2023 Lynchburg team finished higher, at 7th place with 257 points. 
• Sophomore Faith Duncan of Wilmington (Ohio) claimed the individual national title at the NCAA Division III Championships, finishing the 6K race in 20:16.5 with a commanding lead of 3:35.5.
• MIT, who led nearly the entire way, captured the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country team championship with 128 points, led by a strong performance from all seven runners who placed within the top-55. 

TOP 10 TEAM STANDINGS

1. MIT – 128 points
2. University of Chicago – 138 points
3. Williams – 155 points
4. NYU – 177 points
5. Johns Hopkins – 256 points
6. Colorado College – 277 points
7. Emory – 294 points
8. Washington and Lee – 298 points
9. Amherst – 314 points
10. Middlebury – 335 points

The Generals conclude an outstanding season and look toward the winter and spring seasons on the track. 

Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.