Kaitlyn Knoche narrowly missed a top-100 finish at the NAIA Cross Country Championships at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo., Friday morning.

The Bee sophomore finished 104th overall in 22:49.2, ending just two seconds out of a top-100 showing. It was a strong effort from Knoche, who placed 234th at the 2023 NAIA Championships as a freshman, finishing that race in 24:48.

In Friday's 6K, Knoche was in 110th place after the first 1000 meters in the competition featuring 327 total runners. She slid slightly to 113th place after 5000 meters before making a late charge over the final 1000 meters.

Knoche, a two-time all-conference performer, set a 6K school record at the CCAC Championships on Nov. 9. Her record time of 22:24.9 was good for fourth place in the conference and earned her a bid to her second straight National Championship.

She is the first SAU women's runner to compete at back-to-back nationals since Megan Grady and Michaela Pieroni raced at the 2019 and 2020 championships. Those were the third and fourth straight years Grady competed at the national event.

Knoche will now turn her attention to the track & field season.