STILLWATER, Okla. — Four Columbia Lions had the honor of representing themselves and the University on Saturday at the 2022 NCAA Cross Country National Championships. The highlight of the day was sophomore
Victoria Patterson, who crossed the line in 41st out of 254 of the nation's top runners in the women's 6K.
Patterson, who also ran in the event on the same course two seasons ago as a freshman at Duke, improved over 100 spots from March of 2021 until now, crossing the finish in 20:14.0. The Greenville, South Carolina native started mid-pack, just inside the top 100 after the first kilometer. She steadily picked off spots over the next four kilometers, climbing as high as 32nd at the 4.93 split. She ran the final spit in 3:44.2.
Sophomore
Phoebe Anderson (21:16.6) and first-year
Elia Ton-That (21:08.9) also represented the Columbia women at nationals, finishing 191st and 177th, respectively. For Anderson, this marked the London native's second-straight appearance at nationals.
On the men's side, senior
Tyler Berg raced in the 10K. On a cold, breezy day in Stillwater with temperatures right about freezing at race time, Berg earned his best finish in his last Cross Country Championship of 78th. He ran with the lead pack over the first kilometer and was 12th through the first split. He maintained a top 50 position through four kilometers before falling back to 73rd with two kilometers remaining. The Ballston Lake, New York native then ran his final 2K in 6:10.6 for a top 100.
The Lions begin in the indoor track & field season on December 2 inside The Armory at the Rutgers Holiday Classic.
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