SPARTANBURG, S.C.. -- Three athletes from the George Fox cross country teams competed in the NCAA National Championships, with Caden Hildenbrand, Emily Foote, and Hope Bridge competing for the Bruins.

Top Performances
Caden Hildenbrand got things started for the Bruins in the men's 8k, placing 125th in the men's 8k. He earned a total time of 25:31.0 and remained consistent throughout the race, completing every kilometer in under three and a half minutes. His fastest kilometer was the first, at 3:05.4. He completed the final kilometer in 3:09.8—only four seconds slower than his opening split.

Emily Foote ran 22:15.0 to earn 53rd place against 290 of the best women's DIII cross country runners in the country. Foote's splits were consistent throughout the race, completing the first kilometer in a blazing 3:17.5 and maintaining comparable speed. While she was 28th in the final 80 meters, positioned for an All-American award, Foote suffered an unfortunate leg injury; despite the setback, she pushed through to finish strong.

Hope Bridge took 271st place among the best of the best with a time of 24:38.8. Bridge exploded off the mark in the first kilometer, completing it in 3:24.7. She finished strong in the sixth kilometer with a 4:17.6 split.

Coach's Thoughts
"Today was a disappointing day to say the least, but I'm still proud of this trio," Bruin head coach Mike Wilson said, "If we had another race, they'd bounce back. As it stands, we have to wait until track."

Up Next
George Fox Cross Country concludes its 2025 season on a high note. Keep an eye out for these athletes this spring as they gear up for the 2026 track season.