SACRAMENTO, Calif. – First, they earned All-CCAA accolades. Then they became All-West Region. And now Iresh and Della Molina completed a trifecta as All-Americans.
 
Running in front of a 'home' crowd at Saturday's NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championships, the twin sisters both placed inside the top 40 to lock up spots as All-American at a muddy Arcade Creek Course in Sacramento, located less than 100 miles from campus.
 
The Wildcats scored 411 total points to place 15^th out of 34 teams. They combined for a time of 1:50.05. It is the 21^st time in the last 22 seasons the Wildcats have placed 15^th or better at the national meet.
 
Rain had hit Northern California most of the week, including Friday's preview, to add a twist to the course. While the men's race earlier got the brunt of the showers in their race, the weather started to cooperate by the time the 261 women running the 6K event heard the start gun. All they had to overcome was mud and puddles.
 
Iresh Molina had quite a battle for most of the race just to stay inside the top 25. She started out at 36^th at the 1K checkpoint but made a big leap to 16^th at the 2K mark. Molina eventually crossed the finish line at 21:08.3 to place 24^th, a seven spot improvement from last year's national championship.
 
Della Molina, meanwhile, had to battle her way inside the All-America qualifying spot. She started out 52^nd at the 2K mark. She moved up to 42^nd at the fourth checkpoint at the 3.8K marking and then she moved inside the top 40 at the 4.8K spot. Molina went on to finish 32^nd overall at 21:19.6.
 
Kaya Scuba ran a time of 22:25.7 to finish 130^th overall, Jasmine Fletcher took 133^rd at 22:27.7. Marbella Flores crossed the finish line at 22:44.0 to finish 159^th while Sophie Pelletier ran a 22:53.5 to place 167^th. Sienna Bianchi rounded out the rest of the Wildcats with a time of 23:24.7, putting her 200^th overall.
 
Although Grand Valley State was unsuccessful in defending its national championship, the Lakers did see their junior Lauren Kiley win the individual championship at 20:28.5.