Cisco finishes career-best 14th, improves NAIA National Championship time in 10K by two minutes from '24 to '25 in impressive outing

MARION, Ind. -- Olivia Cisco's improvement as a runner over the past two seasons has been thrilling to watch for all who have watched the Waverly native develop within the Shawnee State women's cross country and track and field program.

On Wednesday evening, that improvement was even further pronounced.

After qualifying for her first-ever NAIA National Championship appearance at the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships and placing 22nd in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 38:50.86, Cisco capped off a terrific year full of improvement by dropping her time by two full minutes from 2024 to the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in the 10,000 meter run -- as Cisco finished as the top River States Conference runner and 14th nationally in the event by posting a 36:50.60 in another impressive performance from start to finish by the junior harrier Wednesday evening at the Indiana Wesleyan University Track and Field Complex in Marion, Ind.

Race Highlights

Starting out in the outside lane to begin Wednesday's 10,000 meter run final, Cisco quickly rose up through the field and comfortably placed herself in the fringes of All-American territory, hovering between 10th to 14th place for much of the race's opening half.

Cisco fell to 16th at the 4,400 meter mark, but at the 6,600 meter mark, began her climb back up the standings as the junior passed Rio Grande freshman runner Amarissa Kerns down the backstretch to rise in the top-15, then picked off one final spot over the final 1,200 meters to clinch the junior's best finish in the event.

In addition to improving by two full minutes in the event over a year's time and finishing as the top River States Conference runner in the event, Cisco ultimately improved her finishing position by eight spots to cap off a season where the junior finished 52nd at the 2024 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships, 10th at the 2025 NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field National Championships in the 5,000 meter run, and 14th at the 2025 NAIA Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in the 10,000 meter run.

"Olivia continues to put the work in and improve each year," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "Running two minutes faster than her nationals performance last year and moving up from 22nd to 14th is a success. She showed a lot of fight in the late stages of the race. She's had a great year in all three seasons and continues to show up when it matters. I'm happy for her."

Additional

In addition to Olivia Cisco performing in the 10,000 meter run Wednesday evening, Shawnee State has one additional women's runner who will be racing Thursday afternoon as Natalie Brammer competes in the 5,000 meter racewalk Thursday afternoon at 4:45 p.m.

To watch, visit https://www.naia.org/watch/index.