Kelli Gaffney Qualifies for NCAA Cross Country Championships
11/15/2025 3:00:00 PM | Cross Country
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Junior Kelli Gaffney is officially heading to nationals.
The Temecula, Calif. native learned Saturday afternoon during a selection show on NCAA.com that she had earned one of the 38 individual berths to the NCAA Cross Country Championships, which will be held next Saturday, Nov. 22, at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri.
Gaffney is Cal Poly’s first national qualifier on the women’s side since both Miranda Daschian and Katie Izzo competed in the 2018 NCAA meet.
Gaffney earned a spot at NCAAs thanks to a sensational showing at the NCAA West Regional on Friday at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex. While running a lifetime best 6K time of 20:07.5, Gaffney placed 16th overall to earn All-Region honors and became Cal Poly’s highest finisher on the women’s side at the regional meet since Peyton Bilo placed ninth in 2016.
Gaffney’s performance helped the Cal Poly women secure eighth as a team at the West Regional for the third straight season and the fourth time in the last eight years — tied for their third highest finish in program history at the meet.
Gaffney secured an individual berth to nationals by being one of the top four finishers at the West Regional meet that was not on a team that qualified for the NCAA Championships.
Gaffney will compete in the women’s 6K at the NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7:20 a.m. PST. The meet will be streamed live on ESPNU.
