Hofstad Finishes 48th In NCAA Championship Debut

Saturday, November 23

Terre Haute, Ind.

11:15 a.m.

North Carolina

NCAA Cross Country Championships

Paige Hofstad

Photo by: UNC Athletic Communications

November 23, 2019 | Cross Country

Women's 6K Results Men's 10K Results

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. –– Senior Paige Hofstad wrapped up her first cross country season in Carolina blue with a 48th-place time of 20:55.7 at the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course. Just seven seconds and eight places outside of All-America honors, Hofstad's debut performance in NCAA Championship competition marks Carolina's best individual finish in the women's race since Annie LeHardy placed 25th in 2013.

"I'm really, really excited for Paige today," director of track & field and cross country Chris Miltenberg said. "I feel like this is a big step for us, having someone not only just back at the NCAA Championships but also right on the cusp of being an All-American in her first time at this meet. This meet is different from anything else. It's overwhelming and I think she did a great job of keeping her composure. She even got knocked down 1,000 meters in, didn't panic, popped up and kept fighting. Paige showed we belong back at this level and competed at this meet like she belonged here. Excited for Paige and also excited for the momentum this builds for everybody back home."

Hofstad is the first Tar Heel to earn All-ACC honors, All-Region honors and a bid to the NCAA Championships since LeHardy and four other Tar Heels accomplished that feat in 2014. The New Braunfels, Texas native was also Carolina's top finisher in five of six women's team appearances this season.

With the conclusion of the 2019 cross country season, the Tar Heels will continue training for their full-team debut on January 11 in Eddie Smith Field House when Carolina hosts the Dick Taylor Carolina Challenge, the team's indoor season opener and only home competition of the 2020 track and field seasons.

"I'm excited to take the momentum from this cross country season back to the entire track & field team as we get going," Miltenberg said. "I think the big thing will be building every week especially after a great fall of training with our sprinters, jumpers, throwers. Our coaching staff knows them better so much better than when we first got to Carolina, but we'll continue to learn so much more about each other once competition starts. We'll look to get started January 11 and build every week."