MADISON, WI – In her first NCAA Cross Country National Championship race, Maryland sophomore Rose Coats turned in one of the best performances in program history as she finished 61^st overall with a time of 20 minutes, 18.5 seconds at the Zimmer Championship Course hosted by Wisconsin. 
 
Coats individual finish in the 6,000 meter race was the third best overall in program history and the best since Rosalind Taylor placed ninth in the 1988 National Championship, then a 5,000 meter race. Jean Whitson, Maryland's first NCAA championship runner, placed 20^th in the 1981 race which was the first-ever sponsored for women's cross country.
 
Her performance on Saturday was the best time for any Terp on a 6K National Championship course.
 
Coats, who earned NCAA All-Region honors last week, became the sixth Terp in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championship and the first since Emily Bracher in 2018. 
 
Maryland NCAA Championship Performances

• Rose Coats – 2024 NCAA Championship (61^st, 20:18.5, 6K)
• Emily Bracher – 2018 NCAA Championship (227, 22:18.50, 6K)
• Alexandra Lucki - 2017 NCAA Championship (163, 21:11.6, 6K)
• Julie Fricke – 2011 NCAA Championship (150, 21:24.0, 6K)
• Rosalind Taylor – 1988 NCAA Championship (9^th, 16:50.00, 5K)
• Jean Whitson – 1981 NCAA Championship (20^th, 17:03.60, 5K)

 
Coats twice set the Maryland program record for a 6K race including last Friday at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional where she clocked 19 minutes, 53.8 seconds. That mark shaved just over six seconds off her previous record, the first sub-20 minute 6K time in program history, which she set at the Princeton Fall Classic.
 
She earned her bid to the NCAA Championship as one of the top four individuals to finish at a regional race outside of those on qualifying teams.