ST. LEO, Fla.—For the 57th time in school history, the Adams State University Grizzlies are CHAMPIONS! Despite seeing the No. 2 ranked Grand Valley Lakers finish 1-2 in the individual race, the No. 1 ranked ASU women placed all five scorers in the top 20 to capture their 19th National Championship at the Abbey Course in St. Leo, Florida, on Saturday morning.

The crown doubled as ASU’s 39th NCAA Division II (1992-present) championship, which moves them into a tie for 13th all-time in NCAA for all divisions. In addition, it moves Adams State into a tie for second in NCAA Division II with St Augustine’s and ties them for most titles in a single sport.

Adams State scored 59 points while Grand Valley was 20 points behind in second place with 79 points. The win helped the Grizzlies win their second straight championship as they posted a program record of 23 points back in 2019. In addition, Adams State posted a 37.1 second pack time compared to the Lakers’ 1:03.2 pack time.

On the men’s side, a dramatic individual race opened the door for No. 2 Grand Valley to capture the team title while No. 3 Adams State finished in second. The Lakers finished with 43 team points, 41 points ahead of the Grizzlies, with 84 points. As a program, the Grizzlies captured eight All-America honors.

Adams State sophomore Brianna Robles tackled the loop-and-a-half on the flat Abbey Course, a golf course that starts with a near-800-meter straight sprint before some zigzags, making the course very fan-friendly. The reigning RMAC and South-Central Regional Runner of the Year finished the 6,000-meter course in 20:36.3.

Despite the 67-degree weather that felt even warmer with 79 percent humidity, Grand Valley junior Hannah Becker captured the individual crown with a time of 20:22.0. Her teammate, sophomore Klaudia O’Malley, finished in second in 20:26.9.

Adams State junior Franziska Althaus finished in tenth while sophomore Precious Robinson finished in 11th with times of 20:55.1 and 20:47.1, respectively.

Freshman Morgan Hykes finished in 15th place with a time of 21:01.7, while junior Nicole Lawrence posted a time of 21:13.4 to round out the scorers with a time of 21:13.4.

The five scorers for the Grizzlies earned All-America status.

Freshman Fiona Hawkins (21:22.6) finished in 34th place, and RMAC Freshman of the Year Ava O’Connor (21:33.4) represented the Grizzlies and finished in 46th place.

Junior Isaiah Rodarte paced the Grizzlies in the two-loop, 10,000-meter race as he finished in sixth with a time of 30:26.3 behind Grand Valley senior Isaac Harding (29:38.3), and junior Tanner Chada (30.07.1) finished 1-2.

Senior Carson Bix finished in seventh place as he crossed the finish line in 30:36.5. Freshman Ahmed Sado rounded out the All-American finishers for the Grizzlies with an 18th place finish in 30:54.1.

Mikah Paiz finished in 26th place with a time of 31:07.9, while freshman Andrew O’Keefefinished in 41st to round out the scorers in 31:29.9.

Freshman Yonas Haile finished in 43rd, and junior Davonte Jett-Reynolds rounded out the Grizzly runners with a time of 32:40.1.