The women’s cross country team — the Maddawgs — took first place to open the season at the Indiana Wesleyan Twilight Invitational on Sept. 5. The team averaged 22 minutes and 17 seconds for the 6K race.
Sophomore Jaynie Halterman was a key contributor to the victory in Marion. She clocked in at 20:41 to obtain a meet record. This marked another event where she became the individual champion, while beating her initial time of 21:58 as a freshman.
Halterman was eager to get back into the season, after winning the individual NAIA title and setting the NAIA National Championship record in 2024.
“I was nervous about it, yeah, but it went really well,” Halterman said. “I just felt very good. I felt smooth and controlled. That was the goal. The goal was not to do anything super crazy.”
Halterman sets an example of confidence in her second year. While her last season was fun and exciting, she foresees more excitement in the 2025 season now that she is familiar with pushing herself at the college level.
Freshman Catey Campbell offers another perspective. From Fishers, Ind., Campbell experienced her first meet at the college level, placing in the top 10, with a time of 22:47.
She was surprised by how well her race played out. Training with her new teammates was an essential ingredient in her success.
“I wasn’t sure where I was going to land,” Campbell said. “I just went in with an open mind. I barely noticed the last kilometer. I had so much fun, I wanted to smile during the race. I hadn’t ever felt that way in high school.”
She started in a pack of three Trojans. When teammate, sophomore Bekah Firestone, asked if any others were feeling good enough to move up with her, Campbell took the opportunity. Firestone motivated the newcomer to relax throughout the race.
Campbell’s experience and Firestone’s encouragement are a part of head coach Quinn White’s strategy to run in packs when possible.
“Positivity and support are big,” White said. “Our focus this year is to run with love.”
Halterman and Campbell acknowledged love as the focus word for the team as well. The teammates have bracelets to remind them of the theme on and off the course. Each runner also has an individual word they focus on, which was written on their back during the race.
Support was found through teammates reminding each other of their words for the year and they didn’t shy away from speaking during the meet. While other teams remained silent, they reminded each other to love the sport, love each other and love their opponents.
Halterman focused on loving the pain.
“We had a workout, and that was just something I kept reminding myself of,” Halterman said. “Oh, man. This is getting hard, but I want to focus on loving the pain, because I know it can bring glory to God and success.”
Halterman and Campbell displayed exceptional positions for the Trojans, paralleling their No. 1 ranking in the NAIA preseason poll and Crossroads League.
The invitational dates Quinn White’s first race in his final season as head coach. He seeks to mark the women’s team as champions to close out the year.
“So our hopes are to compete for another national title,” White said.
The Maddawgs will be traveling to Tallahassee for the Florida State Cross Country Open on Sept. 26.
