Baudin, Martel-Phillips reflect on NCAA Debut

It was a long road to run for seniors Ash Baudin and Riley Martel-Phillips.
The pair led the women's Cross Country team to their first-ever NCAA Championship berth after finishing a program-record third at regionals, with their top five runners all making All West-Region.

While men's cross country has now qualified for three NCAA Championships, the Banana Slug women will make their debut as one of 32 teams that will compete for a National Championship Saturday morning in Lansing, Michigan.

"It was very surreal. Just crossing the finish line and realizing we made it as individuals? THAT doesn't seem real," Martel-Phillips said. "Getting the announcement that the whole team qualified feels amazing. I couldn't think of a better group of girls to do it.
"We've been wanting this for so long," Baudin added. "Ever since our freshmen year it's been "we got to go to Nationals" It's a Great thing to happen, especially for our last year."

The two made All-Region last year in Claremont, but it was a different feeling. Martel-Phillips finished 34th, and Baudin was 19th, missing Nationals by two seconds while dealing all race with shin splints.

This year in Spokane, Martel-Phillips was second and took a minute off her time last year. Baudin finished 10th. It was a huge sense of fulfillment for the two and how it vindicated their talented class. Coach David Klech alluded to this group of seniors first year and the potential that was there, and how it took four years-with one year completely wiped out because of the pandemic- but that potential was finally realized.

"Our teammate Izzy Heart has been saying it perfectly: 'It's been a longtime coming' " Baudin said. "It's so surreal to happen all at once and just incredible that our team was able to put this together."
"Our coaches talked about choosing which eight runners to take was so much harder," Martel-Phillips said. "It was so much different than (three years ago) grabbing who could run. There were three other girls that could have come. We had such a strong group that didn't travel to regionals."

"We were just talking about our freshman year 'who is NOT injured? Who can run?'," Baudin recalled. "We've talked about how much of a change it's been from that first race to this one."

The women had their first ever national ranking this year, and go into the Championships as the 18th-ranked team in all of Division III. The runners admit the first-ever national ranking was a boost of confidence in the second part of the season.
"It was a silent "yes! We finally did it.'" Baudin said of the recognition. "I feel none of us wanted to jinx it though."

Martel Phillips mentioned the first race this year at Riverside was a portend on how fun this year was going to be.
"A lot of Division I and II schools were there, and it was pretty warm," she said. "We went out and everyone had massive PRs and a good way to start the season. Then the meet at Pacific was also very hot out. So, transitioning to meets where it was going to be snowing, that was very different. But I feel everyone made the adjustment pretty well."
Martel-Phillips had won the C2C Championship Individual title in cooler weather, but the snow and mud at regionals was more of an adjustment.
"The course was a little muddy because of the snow. You could feel the mud sliding underneath," she recalled. "You had to watch your footing here and there, and there were steep downhills, so you had to be careful.
"The thing I noticed was it's kind of like a golf course. There were rolling hills, and we do a lot of prep for hills, so knowing we were prepared for the hills was something really helpful."

Now with the ultimate race on the horizon, they are happy to have made it and feel their team dynamic gives an extra supportive boost.
"We have an incredible group of girls and boys, not just going to nationals but at home that are cheering us on- both track and cross country," Martel-Phillips added. "We're really in this together and I feel we wouldn't be where we are if it wasn't for the whole entire team."

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Players Mentioned

Ash Baudin

Izzy Heart

Riley Martel-Phillips

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