TERRE HAUTE, IN – Senior Ellie Ponko wrapped up her University of Rochester cross country career on Saturday morning, running at the NCAA Division III Championships at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course.
 
Ponko, competing as an individual qualifier into the meet, finished in 210th place out of a total of 293 runners on the day, completing the 6-kilometer course in 23:04.3. The NCAA appearance was the first of Ponko's career at Rochester.
 
The UR senior ran out in the opening 1,000 meters in 3:23.3, but had a strong second split over the next 2K, moving up 25 spots in the standings. Her time to reach the halfway point was 7:28.4, pushing her overall time of 10:49.7.
 
The next 2,000 meters Ponko ran in 8:07.7, dropping a bit back in the field, and the senior wrapped up the race with a 4:07.0 split over the final 1K to reach the finishing time.
 
Ponko's appearance at NCAA's is the tenth straight for a UR women's cross country team or individual runner, a new program-best.

Earlier in the week, Ponko was one of six 'Jackets to official garner USTFCCCA All-Region honors for their performance at last Saturday's NCAA Niagara Regional meet. At that meet, Ponko's tenth place finish was what earned her qualification into the national meet.