Women's Cross Country Earns Runner-Up Finish at ASUN Championship

Friday, October 30

Richmond, Ky. / The University Club at Arlington

10:30 a.m.

University of North Florida

ASUN XC Championship

10/30/2026 1:30:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

RICHMOND, Ky. - North Florida women's cross country placed three runners in the top 15 and seven inside the top 25 in the women's 5K to earn a runner-up finish at the ASUN Cross Country Championship, hosted by Eastern Kentucky at The University Club at Arlington on Friday morning.

The Ospreys totaled 65 points to finish second in the eight-team field, trailing only conference champion Lipscomb (15 points). North Florida finished 27 points ahead of third-place Florida Gulf Coast (92 points), while also finishing ahead of Stetson, West Florida, Queens (N.C.), Bellarmine and Jacksonville.

Freshman Katelyn O'Brien led the Ospreys with a 12th-place finish in a time of 18:30.1. Fellow freshman Sophia Aldridge followed in 14th with a time of 18:38.3, while junior Madeline Castillo rounded out three Ospreys inside the top 15, placing 15th in 18:39.7.

Senior Annika Buser crossed the line 16th in 18:42.6, while junior Cohen Kooker followed in 17th with a time of 18:45.7, giving North Florida five consecutive finishers from 12th through 17th place.

Senior Mei Chiang finished 21st in 19:07.6, while freshman Isabella Heideman placed 24th in 19:16.3, rounding out seven Ospreys inside the top 25.

Viktoria Kamml followed in 29th with a time of 19:30.6, while Grace Tuesday and Lilly Schuster rounded out North Florida's finishers in 31st and 32nd with times of 19:40.6 and 19:42.4, respectively.

Freshman Katelyn O'Brien earned Second Team All-ASUN and ASUN All-Freshman Team honors following her 12th-place finish at the conference championship. Fellow freshman Sophia Aldridge also earned Second Team All-ASUN recognition after placing 14th overall. The duo led North Florida's runner-up team finish, highlighting a strong performance for the Ospreys at the conference championship.

"The women competed hard today, and it was great for our freshmen to gain valuable conference championship experience," said associate cross country head coach Tyler Stahl. "We have a great competitive environment within our program, and our goal is to get to the point where we can win. I think the team got a good understanding of what it takes to compete for a championship."

"Katelyn and Sophia both ran great races and battled their way to All-ASUN honors," Stahl said. "Maddie, Annika and Cohen continued to show their consistency near the front of our group. We'll look to finish the season strong at regionals in two weeks."

UNF RESULTS
12. Katelyn O'Brien – 18:30.1
14. Sophia Aldridge – 18:38.3
15. Madeline Castillo – 18:39.7
16. Annika Buser – 18:42.6
17. Cohen Kooker – 18:45.7
21. Mei Chiang – 19:07.6
24. Isabella Heideman – 19:16.3
29. Viktoria Kamml – 19:30.6
31. Grace Tuesday – 19:40.6
32. Lilly Schuster – 19:42.4

TEAM FINISH RESULTS
1. Lipscomb – 15 points
2. North Florida – 65 points
3. Florida Gulf Coast – 92 points
4. Stetson – 124 points
5. West Florida – 152 points
6. Queens (N.C.) – 155 points
7. Bellarmine – 207 points
8. Jacksonville – 207 points

ASUN AWARD WINNERS
Katelyn O'Brien – Second Team All-ASUN, All-ASUN Freshman Team
Sophia Aldridge – All-ASUN Freshman Team

UP NEXT
North Florida continues its 2026 season at the NCAA South Regional Championship on Nov. 13 in Tallahassee, Fla.