Romeoville, Ill. - 1996 and 1997 marked a golden era for Lewis University Women's Cross Country. A time defined by grit, unity, and record-setting success. The 1996 and 1997 teams carved their names into Flyers history, setting the standard for excellence on both the regional and national stage and are now members of the Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame.

The 1996 Women's Cross Country team was nothing short of remarkable. The Flyers captured the GLVC Conference Championship, then soared to claim the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional title, punching their ticket to the NCAA National Championships. At Nationals, Lewis raced to a third-place team finish, the highest in program history at the time. The team's depth and leadership were unmatched. The 1996 roster featured three current Lewis Hall of Famers: Malgorzata Biela ('96, '97), Kasia Arient ('96, '97), and Magdalena Paszta ('95 –'97). Their shared legacy of discipline and teamwork became the backbone of Lewis Cross Country's tradition of excellence.

Building on the momentum of their historic third-place finish the year before, the 1997 Flyers delivered one of the most dominant seasons in program history. The Flyers once again swept the GLVC Championship and captured the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional title, solidifying their place as the top team in the region. But the highlight came on the sport's biggest stage, the NCAA National Championships, where Lewis raced to a stunning National Runner-Up finish, the highest in program history. The 1997 team showcased incredible depth, discipline, and unity from start to finish. Leading the charge was standout Magda Locker, whose talent and leadership set the tone for the team's success. Alongside fellow elite runners and Hall of Fame teammates like Malgorzata Biela and Kasia Arient, the Flyers created a powerful legacy built on discipline and hard work.

The 1996 and 1997 Cross Country teams are the first cross country teams in the hall of fame and are two of nine teams ever inducted into the Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame as well.

Lewis athletics is also set to host its annual Flyer Red Dinner at the Bolingbrook Golf and Country Club on January 28^th with the event starting at 6 p.m. The dinner serves as a fundraising event to benefit Flyer Athletics and its teams while also recognizing the 2026 Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame class.

To register for the event, use the link at the top of the article. For more information about the event, please reach out to associate athletic director for development Tyler Mitchell tmichell7@lewisu.edu or call at 815-836-5888.

---

For the latest news and updates on Lewis athletics, visit LewisFlyers.com and follow the Flyers on social media at @golewisflyers on Instagram and @LewisFlyers on X.