LAKELAND, Fla. – A six-year wait for another Sun Conference championship came to an end Saturday as Southeastern returned to the top of the conference, capturing its fourth title in program history behind a record-breaking performance from Izzy Colebank.
In a tightly contested 6K championship, the Fire edged SCAD by just three points, a program who had claimed all six titles since the Fire's last win, finishing with 36 team points to the Bees' 39. Ave Maria rounded out the top three with 58 points.
The victory marked Southeastern's first conference championship since 2020, and head coach Paul Kurtz knew his team had the opportunity to accomplish something special.
"Great day, we knew we had a shot if we did the right things," Kurtz said.
Leading the championship charge was Colebank, who delivered one of the finest performances in Southeastern cross country history.
Colebank crossed the finish line in 22:15.5, winning the individual SUN Conference championship by more than 10 seconds and shattering the her own 6k program's record by 29 seconds.
Colebank's victory placed her in exclusive company as just the third individual in program history to capture the conference crown. She joined Julia Rohm, who won in 2020 and 2022, and Kelsi Ogilvie, who claimed the title in 2017.
For Kurtz, the performance was the culmination of the work Colebank had put in throughout the season and her career.
"Izzy has just been working so hard, she's been the silent killer, people in the NAIA don't really know much about her," Kurtz said. "But she's just getting stronger and stronger, and I think she made her debut today."
While Colebank provided the headline performance, Southeastern's depth ultimately made the difference in securing the team championship.
Acadia Donovan delivered a fourth-place finish in 23:12.4, moving into fourth on Southeastern's all-time 6K list. Joslyn Armstrong followed in sixth with a time of 23:24.2, climbing to sixth in program history.
Together, Colebank, Donovan and Armstrong earned First-Team All-Sun Conference recognition, giving Southeastern three of the top six finishers in the championship field.
Jadyn DeVerna continued the Fire's impressive showing, crossing the line in 10th place at 23:54.7 to secure Second-Team All-Sun Conference honors. DeVerna also received the Sun Conference Champion of Character Award, adding another conference recognition to her championship performance.
With four runners already among the top 10, the championship came down to Southeastern's fifth scorer.
Ashlin Price delivered the decisive contribution, placing 15th in 24:20.1 to complete the Fire's scoring five and help secure the narrow victory over SCAD.
Southeastern's five scorers combined for a time of 1:57:06, averaging 23:25 across the 6K course.
The Fire's depth continued beyond their scoring five, with Gracie McGee finishing 20th in 24:45.3 and Skyla Stevens crossing just behind in 21st at 24:47.8.
Kate Molloy placed 25th in 25:00.6, while Elise Porter finished 31st in 25:19.8. Ashlyn Poulin followed in 32nd with a time of 25:27.5, and Sarina Mays placed 35th in 26:17.0.
Juliet Letherbarrow rounded out Southeastern's finishers, taking 50th in 32:12.4.
The championship celebration also included another individual honor for Kurtz, who was named Sun Conference Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the sixth time in his career.
With the conference trophy back in Lakeland, the Fire now shift their attention to the national stage.
Southeastern will now travel to Vancouver, Wash., for the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship on Nov. 20 at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
The championship race is scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. EST, where the Fire will look to carry their conference-winning momentum into the final race of the season.
