LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Webster University women's cross country team earned a fourth-place finish at the 2026 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Championships on Saturday morning at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, recording the program's highest conference finish since 2022.
The Gorloks finished with 99 points in the 6,000-meter race, placing fourth among seven scoring teams. Greenville University captured the conference championship with 32 points, followed by Spalding University (60) and Lyon College (85). Webster's fourth-place performance marked a four-spot improvement from its eighth-place finish at last year's championships.
Violet Hill paced the Gorloks with an 11th-place finish, crossing the finish line in 26:39.4 to earn Second Team All-Conference honors. Hill led Webster's seven-runner field and secured all-conference recognition for the second consecutive season.
Lydia Imboden was the next Gorlok to cross the finish line, recording a time of 28:18.6 to secure 21st overall. Imboden was also nominated to represent Webster on the SLIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Brooklynn Leeper followed closely behind, finishing 23rd overall with a time of 28:52.3, giving Webster three runners among the top 25 finishers.
Brie Inman and Selene Ahlersmeyer rounded out the Gorloks' five scoring runners. Inman finished 27th overall with a time of 29:27.0, while Ahlersmeyer crossed the line in 30:02.1 to earn 28th place.
Ayanna Lyons was the next Gorlok to finish, placing 29th overall with a time of 30:26.5.
Marissa Usher rounded out the field for Webster, crossing the finish line in 33:03.8 to secure 36th overall.
"Today did not go our way, but I am very proud of the effort that the ladies have put into this season," said head coach Kyle Robinson. "We are a very young team and will continue to build for the future. Today's race provided some valuable experience for the team as we prepare to compete at the NCAA Regional Championship in two weeks."
The Gorloks will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 14, when they compete in the 2026 NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Illinois.
