Gaston College runners return to NJCAA national cross country championships for fourth straight year
For a fourth straight year, Gaston College's women's cross country team will be represented in the National Junior College Athletic Association championships.
The Rhinos' program guided by coach Kody Kubbs also will make its second straight appearance in the NJCAA half marathon championships.
Sophomores Lexi Birtistle and Maddie Frank, coming off their 1-2 finish in the Region 10 championships in Shelby on Oct. 25 will be making their second straight appearances in both events.
"Every training run we've done, whether it's 5:30 in the morning or later in the day, they're always there," Kubbs said of Birtwistle and Frank, who attended Belmont's South Point High School. "I've just been so impressed with how they approach every training session. They're highly-motivated self-starters and joys to coach."
Both are coming off their personal best times as the Rhinos won their second straight Region 10 title entering the NJCAA national championships.
Victoria Perez made Gaston College's first national appearance in 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla., when she placed 134th out of 183 runners.
In 2023 in Huntsville, Ala., Keirieonna Wilson finished 85th out of 180 runners.
And last year in Richmond, Va., the Rhinos appeared as a team with Wilson finishing 67th, Frank 110th, Birtwistle 137th, Abbygale King 174th, Abigale Harris 179th, Alayna Cook 180th and Sara Scoggins 184th out of 184 runners.
In the 2024 half marathon three days later, Wilson finished 31st, Birtwistle 61st, Frank 66th and King 114th.
This year, the Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge, Iowa, will host both events, meaning the Rhinos' will not only have to fly to the championships but they'll be facing chillier temperatures that normal. Future weather forecasts project highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s in Iowa.
"I'm excited to go to Iowa but I'm not looking forward to the colder weather," said Birtwistle, who has been the Rhinos' individual medalist in each of their five meets this season. "But I'm looking forward to flying and run one more time with Maddie. I think it'll be a great experience for us."
Added Frank: "All that work we put in during the offseason has paid off. I've never run in Iowa. It'll be fun to run there."
Kubbs coached both runners when he was cross country coach at South Point before coming to Gaston College in 2022. And he marvels as their preparation and willingness to put the work in to show the improvements they have shown.
"The amount of work that those two put in is just unbelieveable. It speaks to their determination and what they wanted to accomplish this season," Kubbs said. "I think they're going to do really well in the nationals and the half marathon."