VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.- Riding a 21-point team performance in the women's 3,000-meter run and two individual titles by junior Stephanie Cotter, the Adams State University Grizzlies were the surprise NCAA Division II Team Champions after the dust settled at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The Grizzlies scored just enough to prevent Minnesota State from winning back-to-back titles.

The title came down to .77 of a second. After all Adams State's participants were done competing, the Grizzlies led by one point, 52-51 over Minnesota State. The women's 4x400 meter was the final event and Minnesota had a team in the race. As the race progressed, Lee (Tenn.) was able to nip Minnesota state and earn the final team point with a time of 3:47.15.

The Grizzlies have now won five indoor titles with the Grizzlies' last trip to the top coming in 2019.

On the men's side, the Grizzlies finished in second place with 42 points, 44 points behind champion Pittsburg State University. Today's finish was the best finish since 2019 when the Grizzlies finished in second to Ashland. The Grizzlies were at the top of the podium in 2015 when the Grizzlies won their second (2010) NCAA Division II title.

In addition to the one-point team win, the Adams State saw Cotter win individual titles in the 3,000-meter and mile while senior Miguel Coca won the men's mile title. The Grizzlies now have 38 Individual NCAA DII titles.

Not only did she win the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship in the fall but Cotter made it three titles during the academic year. In the mile, she took off in the final two laps to pull away for the title with a time of 4:49.89. Freshman Maggie McCleskey finished in eighth place with a time of 4:56.11.

In the men's race, Miguel Coca was in a tough battle with RMAC-foe Luke Julian of Colorado School of Mines, however, he used his closing speed to finish the race with a national championship in 4:01.17 Teammate, senior Davonte Jett-Reynolds finished in fifth place with a time of 4:09.524

Cotter than had a good race in the 3,000-meter and pushed by her teammate junior Brianna Robles, she won the title and set a new NCAA Division II record with a time of 9:06.03. Robles finished just over a half a second back with a time of 9:06.72.

Sophomore Ava O'Connor posted a personal best of 9:16.59 to finish in sixth place for three team points. Also competing and posting personal bests, were sophomore Reina Paredes (9:32.36), sophomore Precious Robinson (9:32.65) and sophomore Emily Schoellkopf (9:45.33).

In the men's triple jump, senior Papay Glaywulu had six attempts and only put marks on two jumps. His best jump was 14.91m, which earned him eighth place. Camwrin Harris finished in tenth place with a jump of 14.77m.

In the men's shot put, Sam Dirkes finished in 14th place with a throw of 16.35m.