Gaston College concludes season with 12th-place NJCAA finish in half marathon

The most successful season in Gaston College's four-year-old cross country program concluded on Tuesday as the Rhinos finished 12th in the National Junior College Athletic Association Half Marathon competition at Dorey Park in Henrico, Va.

Sophomore Keirieonna Wilson completed her career as team medalist in all 11 meets in which she competed with a 31st overall finish on the 13.1-mile course in the 122-runner field with a time of 1 hour, 33 minutes, 19.5 seconds.

Freshmen Lexi Birtwistle (61st in 1:40:22.1) and Maddie Frank (66th in 1:41:31.1) and sophomore Abbygale King (114th in 2:06:52.2) were the other competitors in the meet for coach Kody Kubbs' team

Wilson's time was her personal best in half marathon while the other runners were first-time runners for that distance.

"Our ladies ran amazing today," Kubbs said. "Finishing 12th in the nation is incredible, especially in our first year competing in the half marathon distance.
"We couldn't have asked for better weather or a nicer course. All of the ladies are incredibly grateful for this opportunity in the experience that we've had."

The event was held three days after Gaston College also competed in the NJCAA cross country championships at Pole Green Park in nearby Richmond, Va.; The Region 10 championship-winning Rhinos finished 23rd.

In each meet, Salt Lake won the team title and Odessa's Elizabeth Iland won the individual championship.

In Tuesday's half marathon, Salt Lake had a team score of 11 and Ilanda had a time of 1:20:03.3.

The Rhinos' cross country program was making the fifth and sixth NJCAA national championship appearances in school history.

Previous national finishers were beach volleyball (10th in April 2023), softball (13th in May 2023), baseball (5th in May 2023) and beach volleyball (7th in May 2024).