Rock Island, Ill. – The Wheaton women's cross country team successfully defended their 2024 CCIW Championship this afternoon as the Thunder won the 2025 CCIW Women's Cross Country Championship at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island. The conference title is the league-leading 17^th CCIW Championship for the Wheaton women's cross country program, as the team's 17 titles are well ahead of the nine all-time titles won by North Central College. This year's championship is the third since 2020 for the Thunder and the 12^th for the program since 2000.

The Thunder coaching staff was named the CCIW Women's Coaching Staff of the Year. This year's conference title marks the seventh under veteran head coach David Walford who took over the Thunder cross country programs in 2015.

Wheaton scored 38 points to win the championship today, well ahead of the 92 points recorded by both Elmhurst and Illinois Wesleyan in second and third place respectively. Augustana finished fourth with 106 points, North Central tallied 107 points in fifth place, Millikin finished sixth with 109 points, Carthage was seventh with 138 points and Carroll finished eighth with 221 points.

Illinois Wesleyan senior Adriana Crabtree finished first on the 6K course today, tying the meet record with a time of 21:55.1. Wheaton sophomore Abby Rickard finished second in the 77-woman field with a time of 22:34.2 and Elmhurst's Molly Roberts was third in 22:38.2.
 

Thunder senior Elizabeth LaBrin finished seventh with a time of 22:51.2, just ahead of fellow Thunder freshman Louisa Brorson in eighth place with a time of 22:54.5 LaBrin and Brorson joined Rickard on the 2025 All-CCIW First Team as the trio finished in the top-10 of today's 6K race.

Wheaton freshman Clodagh O'Bryant ran the course in 23:10.9 to place 12^th overall. Senior Lily Lebo was 13^th 23:13.8 and sophomore Emmarie Marino was 14^th with an effort of 23:15.8. Senior Laura Prothero finished 50^th today with a time of 24:38.1. O'Bryant, Lebo and Marino were each named to the All-CCIW Second Team by finishing in spots 11-20 at the conference championship.

Prothero was named as Wheaton's CCIW RESPECT Award winner. Each varsity program recognizes one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.

Wheaton's next event is the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on November 15. The Regional is hosted by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.