TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Coastal Carolina freshman Annie Bothma started race the 2016 NCAA Cross Country National Championship today, but she could not finish due to unfortunate injury. This marked the third straight year the Chanticleers competed at this event.

Bothma was forced to drop out just before the one-mile mark because of intense back pain.

"Today was a bad break for Annie but I am very proud of her accomplishments this season," said head coach Jeff Jacobs. "The good news is she still has three more opportunities to qualify for and compete at nationals."

Bothma had an impressive season, winning three races and finishing second in a fourth. Early in the season, she won the CCU Invitational and placed second at the highly-competitive Panaroma Farms Invitational. The two-time Sun Belt Runner of the Week led the Chanticleers to a #7 ranking in the Southeast Region and a runner-up finish at the Sun Belt Championship. However, Bothma won the Sun Belt individual title and was tabbed the conference's Runner of the Year. The freshman from Stellenbosch, South Africa, went on to capture the individual title at NCAA Southeast Regional along with being named the NCAA Southeast Region Runner of the Year.