Individual Results I Team Results

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Racing in the final meet of her cross country career, Mackenzie Howe proved herself on a national stage against the top collegiate runners in the country at the NCAA Cross Country Championship today in Terre Haute, Ind. Competing in the race for the first time, she would finish 108th in a time of 21:22.80, which was better than over 50 percent of the other competitors.

Seeing the course at the LaVern Gibson Championships cross country course for the first time, Howe faced some familiar South region foes along with eventual winner Villanova and other powerhouse schools from all over the country. Coming in second and third behind Villanova were Florida State and Texas Tech.

"Today was a really great experience for me," Howe said. "I knew before the race that I would do well so I tried to stay mentally prepared. I didn't want to get boxed in but unfortunately that didn't go in my favor so it turned into a learning experience. Overall, it was a good race and a great way to end my cross country career."

The road to Nationals this season was reminiscent of what Howe has been working towards since she ran her first race for Kennesaw State in 2007. She began the season with a first place victory at the UTC PowerAde Invitational in nearby Chattanooga, Tenn. Back-to-back tests were up next for the senior who finished second at the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Ala. then 15th at the Greater Louisville Classic in Louisville, Ky.

Previewing the eventual regional course Oct. 9, Howe would use the chance to see the course to her advantage, crossing the line second. Another trip to Chattanooga for the UTC Front Runner, where she finished second, would lead her into one of the most important meets of the season.

The past two years Howe would see herself as the runner up in the Atlantic Sun Conference championship but this year, it was her turn to wear the crown. Running the 5k course in an amazing 17:22, she would beat her conference opponent by a mere 1.4 seconds. Along with a first place victory, Howe was also named to her fourth straight All-Conference team, tying former teammate Erin Sutton for the most in program history.

Facing her second regional competition last weekend, Howe would crush her previous 6k time of 20:58 from 2009 by 42 seconds. The eighth place finish would qualify her for Nationals while earning a second straight All-Region award. That brings her to today where Howe became the first Owl in history to run at the national level.

Looking back on her four years as a member of the Kennesaw State women's cross country team, Howe will go down as one of the best the program has known. Over those four years she has earned four All-Conference recognitions, two All-Region awards, 10 time A-Sun Runner of the Week winner and now can say she ran at Nationals.

“What a great way for Mackenzie to finish out her career at Kennesaw State with a solid performance at Nationals,” head cross country coach Stan Sims said. “The National meet is a race of position and the experience of running in this meet helps you a lot. This isn’t the end for her because she still has track to look forward to. We are going to move ahead and get her to the national stage again. I am so thankful to have someone like her to coach. It has been the highlight of my coaching career.”