Steve Scott, the cross country coach at California State University, San Marcos, missed the 1980 Olympics due to the U.S. boycott.

The Ephs captured the third national title in program history – but the first since 2004 – Nov. 21 in Winneconne, Wisconsin. Hannah Cole, who finished fourth in the overall standings, paced the Williams runners over the open and relatively flat course.

In the preseason, Adams State University boasted the No. 1-ranked men’s cross country team in the nation. But it was the women’s team that brought home the national championship for the Grizzlies at the Nov. 21 Division II Cross Country Championships in Joplin, Missouri.

Despite losing four runners from last season’s team that placed third at the NCAA championships, the University of New Mexico women’s cross country team didn’t fade in 2015.

Natalie Bach-Prather was home-schooled while growing up in Marshall, Texas, where her only taste of running came from racing her dad. But now she is making up for lost time – all without leaving her hometown.

Maria Hauer, who was born deaf but can now hear at a 60-80 percent level after seven surgeries, competed for the Huskies’ cross country team in the fall, the Nordic ski team in the winter and ran the 800-meter and the 1,600-meter relay for the track team in the spring. She also dabbles in music, playing the violin, piano, baritone, trombone and the clarinet.