The College of DuPage women's cross country team traveled to snowy Fort Dodge, Iowa, for the 2025 NJCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships on Nov. 8 at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course. In what could only be described as a "once-in-a-lifetime race" due to the conditions, the Chaps captured the first Division III women's cross country national championship in program history. 

"It's hard to put into words. Emotions were high for us all out there," head coach Mallory Dominguez said. 

"My first year coaching DuPage in 2022, we came from behind (ranked No.2) all year in the men's race and pulled the school's first title in history. Coach Nick Keeling was the national individual winner that year, so it was really a full-circle moment having him on our staff to do the same thing on the women's side and bring the first title home in school history." she said. "I knew these girls had it, but they had to put it together on the same day, and they did. They wanted this badly, and it showed out there on the course. I'm so proud of each and every one of them. When I started here, we struggled to find five girls to score, and now this. It's unbelievable." 

It was an award-laden afternoon, with three Chaps earning All-American honors. Jessica Balmer (20:41.5) placed third overall to earn a first-team All-American nod. Elena Korsong, who notched a personal best in the snowy conditions (22:04.6), and Maureen Bluemle (22:27.7) each earned third-team All-American honors. Balmer was also recently named the USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year for her performance throughout the season. 

DuPage also claimed the Gary Moore Award, presented to the program with the best combined and lowest score among both the men's and women's Division III teams. After securing the women's national title, Dominguez was named the 2025 NJCAA Division III Women's Country Coach of the Year. 

With its first women's cross country national championship, DuPage Athletics now holds 49 national titles overall. It marks the 20th national championship earned by a COD women's program. 

NJCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championships
Saturday Nov. 8, 2025
5000 M | Lakeside Municipal Golf Course
Fort Dodge, IA

Team Top 5: 
DuPage 56 (National Champions), Mineral Area 69, JJC 78, Kellogg 108, Jefferson 127

Chaparrals:
3. Jessica Balmer 20:41.5
12. Elena Kosorog 22:04.6
15. Maureen Bluemle 22:27.7
18. Ali Pasdiora 22:30.6
25. Sam Blankenship 23:38.2
34. Bri Pelligrini 24:17.0
66. Alicia Figueroa 28:34.9