FORT WAYNE, Ind. (11/1/2025) -- Senior Nina Pizzo accomplished her goal by earning a trip to the podium and upping her place in school history as the University of Detroit Mercy women's cross country team competed in the Horizon League Championship on Saturday.

The 6k postseason event was held on the campus of Purdue Fort Wayne as the Titans posted 227 points for 10th. 

Pizzo - who was 102nd out of 104 runners just four years ago as a sophomore at the league meet - clocked a career-best 21:38 for 14th overall for Horizon League Second Team honors. The time also ranks fifth in the Titan record book and the second-best time ever for a UDM runner at the league championships. 

Junior Helana Napiorkowski tallied a career-time of 22:29 for 40th, besting her previous best by 1:30, while senior Claire Hunt registered a career-low 22:30 for 42nd, 19 seconds better than her PR. Both marks also rank in the top 15 in school history.

Junior Alaina Burns cranked out a career run of 23:01 for 72nd, ahead of sophomore teammate Aubrey Mery's 23:02 for 73rd in her first-ever 6k, while sophomore Kirsten Koss took over a minute off her career mark to place 74th in 23:03. 

Freshman Addie Stanley crossed the line in 23:21 for 87th, and senior Ayva Schmalz took 94th in 23:45.

The Titans will now get ready for the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 14, hosted by Evansville.