MEQUON, Wis. - The Concordia University Wisconsin women's cross country team completed its 2024 campaign with one of the most successful seasons in program history, capturing the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) title, winning multiple invitationals, and posting a program-best finish at the NCAA Division III North Regional Championships. Fueled by veteran leadership, a deep roster, and All-American-caliber performances, the Falcons solidified their place among the Midwest's premier Division III programs and will enter 2025 aiming to qualify for nationals as a team.
The season began with a dominant statement at the St. Norbert Tom Berry Invite, where CUW claimed the NCAA Division III crown for the second straight year, finishing ahead of all other DIII programs. Junior Ainara Sainz De Rozas (Madrid, Spain) led the charge as the top Division III runner, taking second overall, while juniors Melanie Arvis (Berwyn, Ill.) and Alicia Kawa (Medford, Wis.) joined her in the top six to set the tone for the year.
Momentum carried into the Ken Weidt Classic, where Sainz De Rozas won the individual title on CUW's home course, followed closely by Arvis and Kawa in third and fourth. The trio continued to shine throughout the fall, with Sainz De Rozas earning two NACC Athlete of the Week honors and recording one of the fastest 6K times in program history at 22:15.
A major test came at the Rose-Hulman DIII Pre-Nationals Twilight, where CUW placed 17th out of 44 elite teams under the lights. Arvis led the Falcons with a 43rd-place finish, while all five scorers clocked strong times against a national-caliber field.
The team's defining moment came at the Wisconsin Private College Championships, where CUW claimed the team title with 31 points and swept the individual podium. Sainz De Rozas broke the course record en route to the win, followed closely by Arvis and Kawa to complete the 1-2-3 finish. The Falcons then dominated the NACC Championships, leaving no doubt in claiming the program's seventh league title. With three top-four finishers and five All-NACC honorees, CUW firmly reestablished itself as the conference's gold standard. Head coach Russ DeLap and his staff were named NACC Coaching Staff of the Year.
At the NCAA Division III North Regionals, CUW delivered a historic eighth-place team finish, its best ever. Sainz De Rozas and Arvis earned All-Region honors with top-30 finishes, while sophomore Emma Ahrens (Stephens City, Va.) and senior Alicia Kawa also placed in the top 40. The performance capped a fall of continued elevation and proved the Falcons belonged on the national radar.
Sainz De Rozas became the first Falcon since 2005 to qualify for the NCAA Championships, where she cracked the top 100 with a 99th-place finish in Terre Haute, Indiana. She also ended the season with the second-fastest 6K time in school history, trailing only CUW Hall of Famer Amanda Kuca.
Off the course, the team was equally impressive. The Falcons earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors with a 3.66 GPA, while Sainz De Rozas, Arvis, Kawa, and Ahrens were recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes.
With nearly all major contributors returning, including three All-Region performers, CUW is poised for a national breakthrough in 2025. After a season marked by championships, school records, and academic excellence, the Falcons will enter next fall with a clear goal: punch their ticket to the NCAA Championships as a team.
