CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Behind every scoring runner finishing inside the top 10, Benedictine Women's Cross Country returned to the top of the Heart of America Athletic Conference on Saturday, capturing the 2025 Heart Championship at the annual event hosted by Mount Mercy University.

With a score of 30 points, the Ravens captured the program fifth Heart Championship since 2020 and seventh overall conference title. 

Elizabeth Skendzel and Cecilia Campos finished back-to-back in third and fourth place with Skendzel finishing the 6k course in a time of 21:44.2. Campos was close behind at 21:48.3. 

All five scoring runners for the Ravens earned first-team All-Conference honors. Catherine Aaron placed sixth, followed by Jeanna Marie Lotz in seventh and Emilie Nelson in 10th. Helen Ullrich earned honorable mention All=Conference honors as she placed 15th.

With the championship, the Ravens have earned a return trip to the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships. The 46th annual Championship takes place on Nov. 21 and will be run at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. 

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