The women defeated two-time defending champion Johns Hopkins by a single point to capture the second NCAA championship in program history. Junior Paige Lawler, graduate student Wayne, junior Sophie Watterson, senior Lisa Gorham and senior Molly Shepherd composed the group that brought the title back to Wash. U.

The Washington University women’s cross-country team captured the 2018 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championship on Saturday. The Bears narrowly edged out two-time defending champion, Johns Hopkins University by a single point, 98-99 to win their second title in program history.

The Bears dominated Saturday at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championship at the Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis. The women’s team won it all, earning an automatic ticket to next weekend’s NCAA Championship, while the men’s team came in third place before getting a nod from the selection committee Sunday to advance to the national meet.

In a field of talented runners and teams with national championship aspirations, Washington University was the only school to place both its men’s and women’s teams on the podium.