Junior Octavia Rinehardt competed at the 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships Monday in Terre Haute, Ind., becoming just the third member of the American University women's cross country team to do so.
Rinehardt placed 125th in a field of 253 runners at the national meet, completing the 6k course in a time of 21:31.9. The junior qualified for the meet with an 18th-place finish at last week's NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional and was one of only two representatives from the Patriot League at the meet.
"Octavia ran a very smart, intelligent race today," Head Coach Matt Centrowitz stated. "We are very proud of the year she had for us. She is very deserving of all the honors she has received and we are extremely excited to have her back next year for her senior season."
Rinehardt, a 2010 All-Region selection and three-time All-Patriot League performer in cross country, is just the third member of the women's cross country team to compete in the event. Samia Akbar '03 was the first NCAA qualifier in program history and placed 60th at the 2002 championships. Kiera Carlstrom '06 competed at the meet three straight years from 2003-05, earning All-America honors each year.
