Mars Hill Women's Cross Country run to highest NCAA Southeast Regional finish in 11 years
The Mars Hill women's cross country team had their highest finish in 11 years at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship held in Wingate, NC during the running of the 6k race. The Mars Hill women's team finished ranked 12th of 36 teams in the southeast region.
WINGATE, N.C. - The Mars Hill women's cross country team had their highest finish in 11 years at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship held in Wingate, NC during the running of the 6k race. The Mars Hill women's team finished ranked 12th of 36 teams in the southeast region. The Lady Lions also finished 7th place among schools in the South Atlantic Conference.
On a rolling and curvy cross country race course the Lady Lions were led up front by Sophie Ratcliff in 39th and Natalee Powers in 59th. A tight pack of Lions followed behind with Grace Adams in 80th, Mary Malcolm in 84th, and Alleigh Flewwellin in 85th.
Sophie Ratcliff and Natalee Powers have earned the athletic requirements to be honored with Academic-All American status at the conclusion of the fall semester by placing in the top 30% of NCAA Regional competition.
The Lady Lions finished the 2025 season as the 4th fastest team in the history of Mars Hill Women's Cross Country behind only the 2004, 2014, and 2024 teams. Five current Lady Lions have earned positions on the all-time Mars Hill Women's Cross Country 6k Leaderboard. Sophie Ratcliff holds the position as the 2nd fastest of all time in Mars Hill Women's Cross Country history, Grace Adams as the 12th fastest, Mary Malcolm as the 15th fastest, Natalee Powers as the 17th fastest, and Lola Korth as the 24th fastest.
View the full Mars Hill Women's Cross Country leaderboards here.
Thoughts from Coach Benge:
"The women's team continued to show improvement this year with their highest finish at the NCAA DII Southeast Regional Championship since 2014. With strong races from Sophie and Natalee up front and a strong pack of three ladies - Grace, Mary, and Alleigh - coming next, the ladies executed a strong team performance and look to break into the top ten teams in the region next year! This is great momentum to head into track season and to fuel training for the next cross country season. With such a young team, we are excited to return the majority of our top seven ladies next season! Watch out for Mars Hill Women's Cross Country in 2026!"
To view the full list of results, please click here.
The Mars Hill women's cross country team has concluded their 2025 fall season and will look forward to the upcoming Indoor Track & Field season with competition beginning in December.
