BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- Moravian University is continuing its look back at its 2023-24 athletic campaign. The next entry in our second countdown of the summer – the Top 10 Stories of the Year selected by the athletic administration – is our No. 4 highlight – sophomores Nathan Hajel and Tara Smurla running in the 2023 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships.

Hajel qualified for the NCAA meet for the first time in his career after finishing eighth at the NCAA Division III Metro Regional. On Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Big Spring High School in Newville, Hajel finished 210th of 294 runners with a time of 26:33.6 on the 8,000-meter course. Hajel moved up 34 spots during the race after the opening mile checkpoint.

Smurla also reached the NCAA Championships for the first time in her career, and she earned a spot with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Division III Metro Regional. In the NCAA Championship race, Smurla was 271st of 292 runners with a time of 23:56.8 over the 6,000-meter course.

The number three story in the countdown will be released on Wednesday, July 24.