On Nov. 23, Dale Leonard took a long trek to Terre Haute, Indiana to compete in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Cross Country Championships. She finished in 127th overall out of 390 other NCAA DIII runners and is the only women’s runner in Ramapo College history to qualify for the championship meet.
Leonard was the top New Jersey Athletic Conference finisher, dashing across the 6k finish line in 22:31.0. According to Athletic.net and the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, her final time ranks within the top five fastest final times ever achieved in Ramapo College women’s cross country history. The 2024 championships are the Ramapo sophomore’s second straight NCAA championship meet appearance in her career.
The championships were hosted by the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at the historic LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the entire NCAA DIII women’s 6k event.
This is the end of the fall season for the Ramapo men’s and women’s cross country teams, but winter track is right around the corner. This Saturday on Dec. 7, the Roadrunners will compete against The College of New Jersey in their winter open, held at the New York Armory.
bkeatin1@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of RCNJ Athletics
