Bickler, Franco represent Pride at NAIA Championship race

VANCOUVER, Wash. – Representing Pride cross country at the National Championship race for the first time since Claire Ronnebaum competed in 2020, Rory Bickler and Jaycie Franco raced against a field of 334 runners from NAIA schools around the country.

Both ladies qualified for the National race after Bickler finished in eighth place at the Heart of America Conference Championship race in the 6k with a time of 23:03.9 and Franco right behind her in ninth with a time of 23:08.0.

Today, Bickler ran the 6k in a time of 24:17.9 putting herself just outside the top half of all finishers in 174th place and Franco in 201st crossing the finish line in 24:28.9.

Winning the event from Huntington University in Huntington, Ind. was sophomore Addy Wiley who finished the race with a time of 21:04.2. Three of the top five finishers were from the College of Idaho, earning them the 2023 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship.

Today's race concludes the Pride's cross-country season as Head Coach Bradley Johnson will transition into the indoor track and field season with the first meet being the Frigid Bee Invite on Dec. 2nd in Davenport, Iowa.