TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Northern Illinois University cross country season has come to an end after the NCAA National Championship at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course Saturday with a 20:51.3 finish from senior Hope Schmelzle (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South).
 
"Our plan was to expect a conservative start to the race because of the very windy conditions," said NIU head coach Adrian Myers. "The race ended up with a complete opposite start, which made it hard for her to get in a good rhythm after the first kilometer."
 
Even though Schmelzle is first ever National qualifier for the Huskies, this was not her first time at a NCAA National Championship. Schmelzle's list of accomplishments include a National Championship trip from her time at Purdue. She has also achieved two All-Conference honors and two All-Region honors.
 
"She has had a tremendous cross-country career," said Myers. "The accolades she has earned are very hard to achieve at this level and these conferences. I want people to realize that she was never all-state for cross country in high school. It's rare to see someone qualify for the national championships in our sport having never been all-state at the high school level. She was a standout on the track, but took her a while to develop in cross-country."
 
Schmelzle was joined on the course by conference foe Eastern Michigan who broke the top-10 with 316 total team points to earn ninth place. The Huskies came in second to EMU at the MAC Championship after a 12th place average in the conference. The Huskies are on the up-and-up towards a championship tradition that they hope to continue next season.
 
Schmelzle is not done with her career at NIU just yet. She will compete this spring on the track and field team to finish out her career as a Huskie.
 
"Fortunately for Hope, this is not the end of the road," said Myers. "We now take some time off to recharge and refocus, then gear up for another run at All-American in track and field. She returns this spring as the MAC Champion and NCAA first-round qualifier in the 3,000m steeplechase."
 
Schmelzle has been a driving force in developing the NIU cross country team in a record-breaking season for the Huskies. She recorded five top-3 finishes for the season with two at first place. She broke the school's record time, which was set by junior teammate Kelsey Hildreth (Byron, Ill./Byron) during the 2015 season, at the NCAA Midwest Regional last weekend with her 20:16.9 finish.
 
"Hope has so many gifts and to have been blessed to help her develop as an athlete has been a very special experience," said Myers. "Her leadership, work ethic, and commitment is second to none."
 
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