VANCOUVER, Wash. – For the fifth time in her four-year career, Jessup's Azalea Prince was in action at an NAIA National Championship on Friday morning. Competing on the national stage for the second time as a cross country runner, Prince produced another strong race to wrap up her senior season.
 
Head coach Jeff Magley offered his comments on Prince's season, noting, "Anytime a senior gets to finish out their eligibility and end their senior year at the national championship, it is such an accomplishment. For her to do it more than once, but more importantly, be here her senior year, it's just an awesome accomplishment."
 
The NAIA Cross Country National Championship takes place in Vancouver, Wash., which featured sunny skies in the mid-40s Friday morning. It's Prince's second time running on this course, as she qualified for nationals in cross country back in 2021 as well.
 
"It was great to have Azalea back in a familiar setting," added Magley. "The course was in awesome shape, and the weather was perfect. Just a great day-and-a-half to be up here with Azalea."
 
Friday was also a marquee moment for Jessup University as it marked the final NAIA cross country race in university history.
 
One noticeable change from Prince's last appearance in Vancouver was the length of the race. The NAIA National Championship was just a 5K back in 2021. This year, runners would go an extra kilometer as the race is now a 6K.
 
The 2021 race saw Prince post a time of 20:36 in the 5K. Through 5K on Friday, Prince's time was 16 seconds faster at 20:20. Prince wrapped up her second cross country nationals' appearance with a time of 24:24.
 
Winning the 2023 NAIA National Championship was Addy Wiley of Huntington University with a time of 21:04. The team championship goes home with the College of Idaho, who edge past The Master's University of the GSAC, who finished second in the nation.
 
Friday's race saw 36 schools send a full team, and along with individual qualifiers, a total of 331 runners were on the course at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Championship Course. There were 330 runners in the field back in 2021.
 
Prince finished 224th in the field two years ago when she made her Vancouver debut. This year, she moved up to 187th.
 
Magley was happy to see the growth out of Prince from the last time she was in Vancouver, noting, "That's always something coaches are looking for, that improvement. That comes with experience and development. It was great to see her inside the top 200 and making a big jump from the last time she was here on this course."

The senior season of Azalea Prince is not complete, however, as she will continue it in the spring when the track & field schedule gets underway. Of the five NAIA National Championship appearances in Prince's career, three have come on the track, including two one year ago.
 
On the upcoming track season, Magley added, "We're excited for her as she makes the transition to track and field. Obviously, she has a great history for us in track and field at the national level. But it was great for her to end her cross country career here at the national championship."
 
Prince will be looking to close out Jessup's time in the NAIA by punching her ticket to two more national championships in both indoor and outdoor track.
   
Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).