Cottey College Cross Country wrapped up its fall campaign with a powerful showing at the regional championships, held at the Southwell Complex in Columbia, Missouri. In a field packed with talent, the Comets placed three runners in the top ten—Madalenn Fee, Avery Morris, and Jessie Mick—earning individual berths to the national meet and First Team All-Conference honors from the American Midwest Conference.
Fee Leads the Charge
Senior Madalenn Fee ran a near-perfect race, finishing second overall in 23:50.64. Her splits mirrored the race leader through the first half, and she held strong through the final mile to secure her national qualification and First Team AMC recognition.
Morris and Mick Join the Nationals Field
Junior Avery Morris placed fifth in 24:22.90, showing consistent pacing and a strong final kick. Sophomore Jessie Mick rounded out the top ten with a time of 25:05.38, edging out teammate Hannah Hayduk for 10th and the final qualification spot. Both earned First Team All-Conference honors alongside Fee, marking a major milestone for the program.
Full Team Results
Cottey's full roster showed depth and determination, with several runners setting season-best marks:
| Athlete | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Madalenn Fee (SR) | 2nd | 23:50.64 |
| Avery Morris (JR) | 5th | 24:22.90 |
| Jessie Mick (SO) | 10th | 25:05.38 |
| Hannah Hayduk (SR) | 11th | 25:23.92 |
| Joliette Johnson (SO) | 14th | 26:22.24 |
| Kallee Cook (JR) | 17th | 28:03.49 |
| Kyndal Soukup (SR) | 19th | 28:26.19 |
| Arabelle McDonald (FR) | 20th | 28:26.36 |
| MC Cox (FR) | 30th | 32:57.98 |
Soukup Honored for Character
Senior Kate Soukup was recognized with the Champions of Character Team Award, an honor reserved for student-athletes who exemplify integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. Her leadership and steady presence have been a cornerstone of Cottey's team culture throughout the season.
Academic Honorees
The Comets had quite a contingent of honorees receiving Academic All-Conference honors: Madalenn Fee, Kate Soukup, Kyndal Soukup, Joliette Johnson, Avery Morris, Hannah Hayduk, and Jessie Mick.
Looking Ahead
With three Comets heading to nationals and a full roster showing promise, Cottey Cross Country has some impressive hardware coming back to campus. Fee, Morris, and Mick will continue training for the NAIA Cross Country National Championship, held November 21st in Tallahassee, Florida.
