The ISU cross country team finished its season with a bang, as both the men and women placed in the top 20 of the NCAA Championship meet in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 23.

This year marked the first time both the Cyclone men’s and women’s teams competed in the NCAA Championships since 1995.

At the conclusion of the meet, coach Corey Ihmels expressed his optimism about the outcome.

“Both programs continue to reach levels of achievement that have not been realized at Iowa State for a long time,” Ihmels said in a news release. “This has been accomplished through the hard work of our athletes. It does not come easy. Needless to say we are excited about the future.”

Junior Hillary Bor led the men by placing 37th overall and finishing in 30:25.

Sophomore Yonas Mebrahtu shadowed Bor by finishing 40th overall.

Guor Marial ended his senior campaign finishing 103rd out of 212.

Senior Jory Zunich finished his senior season 117th overall, just four seconds off Marial’s pace.

Sophomore Joel Limo rounded out the scoring for the Cyclone men by finishing 141st overall in 31:38.

The Cyclone women, making their first team appearance at the NCAA Championships since 1996, placed 17th overall in their first effort after a 13-year absence from the national meet.

Senior Lisa Koll led the women by finishing 11th overall in the meet. Koll, a two-time All-American in the sport of cross country, finished the 6,000-meter race in 20:16.

Freshman tandem Aliphine Tuliamuk and Betsy Saina finished 68th and 114th. Sophomore Semehar Tesfaye finished 116th overall, just one second off Saina’s pace.

Senior Grace Kemmey rounded out the scoring for the women by finishing 137th in the 216-runner field. Kemmey, who earned All-American honors in 2007, finished the race in 21:50.