Graduated from Ward Melville High School in 2019 and a season cut short due to the pandemic, fourth-year psychology major Kate Cochran makes her final season historic for the New Paltz Women’s Cross Country program. Cochran became just the sixth Hawk and the fifth woman in history to qualify for the NCAA DIII Women’s Cross Country Championship after finishing in 11th place with a time of 22:57.5 at the NCAA DIII Mideast Regional Qualifier.
At the NCAA DIII Championship in Lansing, Michigan, Cochran placed 110th overall with a time of 23:31.8 on the cold and icy 6K course. Her placement is tied for the third highest in the New Paltz 38-year program history. She was the Hawks’ top finisher in the seven total meets she ran in, scoring three second-place finishes. She ran a time of 19:23.4 at the Vassar Ron Stonitsch Invitational, 22:06.2 at the Oneonta Airfield Invitational, and 22:37.3 at the Connecticut College Invitational White.
After finishing third place in the SUNYAC Women’s Championship with a time of 22:52.9, Cochran earned her second All-SUNYAC title, this time as a first team selection. In 2021, she received her first All-SUNYAC as a third-year as a second team selection and had her best standing of the season at the New Paltz Invitational, finishing in second place overall with a time of 24:59.7. She earned a spot on the Hawks Academic Honor Roll for the fall 2021 and spring 2022 semesters. Cochran was also named on the 2022 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll following her success on the team.
