RESULTS 
 

RECAP 

No. 25 DBU Women's Cross Country finished second at the Lone Star Conference Championships with 72 points. No. 8 West Texas A&M claimed its fourth consecutive conference title, dominating the field with 19 points. Midwestern State finished third with 108 points. 
 

Senior Lesli Salas led the Patriots, placing eighth overall with a time of 22:12.4. Kylie Himes set a personal best in the 6K, earning All-Conference honors by clocking 22:39.6 to finish 12th. Makayla Stephens (16th, 23:02.5), Courtney Hobbs (17th, 23:12.1), and Anastasia Tronicek (19th, 23:12.7) followed with three more top 20 finishes. Montse Guerra and Kirra Phillips rounded out DBU's top seven, both running 23:21.1 to place 22nd and 23rd, respectively. 
 

DBU came out of the gates strong, staying close behind the national-caliber pack from West Texas A&M through the opening 3K. Salas positioned herself among the Buffs' top four, pushing to remain in contention, while Hobbs and Guerra stayed close behind in the race for All-Conference honors. DBU held second place through the opening half of the race and never relinquished its position. Although Salas, Hobbs, and Guerra slipped back a few spots over the final 3K, the Patriots' depth proved critical to maintaining their hold on second. Stephens gained 11 positions, while Tronicek moved up six spots to finish inside the top 20. In their first 6K race of the season, the Patriots showed resilience over the closing kilometers to hold off challenges from Midwestern State and Oklahoma Christian. 
 

PATRIOT PONDERINGS 

After finishing fourth last season, the Patriots returned to the conference podium but now turn their attention to the South Central Regional Championships in two weeks. Returning to Lubbock, DBU will face a strong field that is expected to include several Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contenders, including CSU Pueblo, Black Hills State, Fort Lewis, and Colorado Mesa. The Patriots will also keep an eye on the Central Region Championships, where East Central could factor into the regional team standings. With two regular-season victories over DBU, the Tigers could factor into the Patriots' NCAA Championship qualification picture, making the results of both regional meets particularly important. 
 

Within the Lone Star Conference, DBU reinforced its standing among the league's top programs by securing the runner-up finish. The Patriots challenged West Texas A&M early and relied on their depth to fend off the field behind them. In two weeks, DBU will put its season on the line at the South Central Regional Championships, aiming to earn a spot at the 2026 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.