ELSAH, IL (11.18.17) - UT Dallas senior Lindsey Rayborn wrapped up her distinguished Comet career Saturday afternoon as she became the first UTD runner to compete at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships, hosted by Pricipia College.
FULL RESULTS
Rayborn closed her final collegiate season with a 146th place finish out of 279 runners at the national meet, completing the six-kilometer race in a time of 22:35.0. She was the first American Southwest Conference runner to qualify for the national meet since 2013 and just the sixth-ever qualifier from the conference. Rayborn recorded the fastest-ever time by an ASC runner at the national championships and the second-highest finish. The ASC has never had a full team qualify for nationals.
All-Time ASC Runners in NCAA D-III National Meet
22:35, Lindsey Rayborn, Texas Dallas, 2017, 146th place
23:01, Nicole Leman, LeTourneau, 2012, 143rd place
23:10, Carly Kitts, Texas-Tyler, 2013, 177th place
23:57, Megan Wagenaar, Concordia Texas , 2013, 247th place
24:01, Carla Lewis, McMurry, 2009, 148th place
24:26, Jennifer Cooper, Mississippi College, 191st place
A two-time American Southwest Conference champion, Rayborn became the first UTD runner to qualify for the national meet after placing ninth at the NCAA D-III South/Southeast Regional Championships on Nov. 11, earning all-region honors for second consecutive season.
Rayborn was a four-time first team All-ASC performer for the Comets and will end her career as the most decorated UTD cross country in program history. After placing second at the ASC Championships as a freshman, Rayborn placed seventh at the league meet as a sophomore after an injury plague season. She then became the first UTD runner to claim the ASC title as a junior, leading the Comets to their first-ever ASC team title. Rayborn would go on to place 17th at the NCAA D-III Regional Championships last fall.
She claimed her second straight ASC title by breaking the league meet record as a senior, finishing the six-kilometer race in a time of 22:37 as the Pocatello, Idaho, native sparked the Comets to a second ASC team championship. Rayborn then qualified for the national meet after recording a personal-best 21:55 at the regional championships.
