LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Seven of the eight SCAC women's cross country teams were in action this past weekend.
Austin College
The Austin College women's cross country team placed third at the Austin College Invitational on Saturday morning, the first cross country meet the 'Roos have hosted since restarting the women's varsity program three years ago. Alex Quinn paced the 'Roos with a finishing time of 20:42 on the 5k course at Pecan Grove Park, good for seventh place overall. Eden Llamas took eighth with a time of 20:46. Sally Kate Humphries placed 12th and Hailee Meiners was 13th, finishing with times of 21:14 and 21:50, respectively. The 'Roos have completed their regular season and will be back in action on Novemeber 1st for the SCAC Cross Country Championships in Boerne, Texas.
Colorado College
The Colorado College women's cross country team turned in another impressive performance Saturday, tying for ninth place at the Fort Hays State Tiger Open in Hays, Kan. The Tigers, who tied with Northwest Missouri, finished ahead of several Division II teams, including RMAC teams Nebraska-Kearney, Regis and New Mexico Highlands. Once again, CC was led by sophomore Leah Wessler, who covered the 5k race in a time of 18 minutes and 30 seconds, good for 34th place among 143 runners. Senior Rebecca Lavietes followed in 43rd place with a time of 18:42. The Tigers are idle next week before running at the 2014 SCAC Championships on Saturday Nov. 1 in San Antonio, Texas.
University of Dallas
The University of Dallas women's cross country raced to a second place finish at the Austin College Invitational on Saturday. This finish marks consecutive competitions the Lady Crusaders have notched second in the standings as a team. Junior Ruth Fritz (Boise, Idaho) paced the team with her highest finish on the campaign in third with a 19:58 minute result. She formed a duo with senior Anita Villalpando (Baytown, Texas), who both set personal records in the contest. A trio of Dallas players contributed top 10 finishes in the rankings, led by Fritz. Joining her was senior Meghan Falconer (Kohler, Wis.) with a time of 20:34 for sixth place, a season-best. Also in the unit was senior Colleen Slattery (Middle Ridge, Wis.), who raced to a ninth place finish at 20:52 minutes. Dallas heads to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship, hosted by Trinity University, on Nov. 1 at San Antonio, Texas.
Schreiner University
Juniors Miranda Reagan and Allyson Graybill went 1-2 and finished within seven seconds of each other in leading the Schreiner Women's Cross Country to a seventh place finish at the Concordia Invitational on Saturday. Reagan, who is in her first year competing for the Mountaineers, completed the course in 23:53 and shaved 30 seconds off her best time from earlier this fall. Graybill, who had to miss valuable training time while competing for SU's women's golf team over the past two weeks, ran in a time of 24:00. The Mountaineers now have just one race remaining and that is the 2014 SCAC Championships. That race will be held in Boerne, Texas on November 1st.
Southwestern University
In their final regular season meet of the year, the Pirates ran well against familiar competition as the women's team finished in fourth place in their respective 5K meets. It was a misty morning at the start of the women's race at Old Settlers Park as the Pirates blasted off the line. Emily Boujemaa was fast off the line and out in the front of the pack. She was able to stay out in front of the group most of the way and finished in 20th with a time of 21:09.94. Brianna Timourian continues to get stronger and wasn't far behind, bringing home 17 points with a 24th place finish in a time of 21:40.28. Danielle King finished in 21:43.19 for 26th place. This was the final regular season contest of the Pirates as they next head to San Antonio, Texas to compete in the SCAC Championships on November 1st.
Texas Lutheran University
The TLU Women's Cross Country produced a third-place finish Saturday morning at the Concordia Invitational at Old Settlers Park. Jasmine Medrano cracked the top 10 with a 5K time of 20:01.33 and a ninth-place overall finish. Samantha Lopez recorded a time of 21:19.57 and a finish of 21st overall. Haley Cortez took the 27th position with a time of 21:43.72. Stephanie Ernst was 28th with a time of 21:44.47, and Amanda Lopez rounded out the TLU top five with an overall placement of 44th and a time of 24:37.41. The Bulldogs' next action comes Nov. 1 in Boerne, Texas at the 2014 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Trinity University. The women's race, contested over 6K, begins at 10 a.m.
Trinity University
The Tiger women (32 points) did finish as runners-up at the Concordia Invitre in the 5,000 meters race, but only NCAA Division I member Rice University was able to outscore Trinity with 26 points. Four Tiger competitors were top 10 finishers in the women's event. Michelle Oberndorf (19:22.29) placed fourth, and Melissa Whitman (19:34.24) was No. 5. Nicola Hill (19:46.87) had a seventh-place performance, while Emma MacEachern (19:51.33) was No. 8. Trinity's teams will defend their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference titles by hosting the SCAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 1, in Boerne, Texas.
Centenary College did not compete this weekend.
