Colorado College Women Repeat as SCAC Cross Country Champions

Colorado College Women Repeat as SCAC Cross Country Champions

SHERMAN, Texas - After waiting nine years for its first conference title, the Colorado College women wasted no time in picking up their second. The Tigers had four runners place in the top six and repeated as SCAC cross country champions Saturday morning at Stone Creek Golf Club. Team Results | Individual ResultsOfficial Website | Facebook Photo Album

After nipping Trinity University by three points the previous year in winning the program's first SCAC title, the margin was a little more comfortable on Saturday as the CC Tigers navigated the wet and muddy Stone Creek course and finished with 25 points to Trinity's 41.

The University of Dallas finished in third with 97 points, followed by Austin College with 125 points and a program-best fourth-place finish. Rounding out the team standings, Texas Lutheran University was fifth with 129 points, Southwestern University was sixth with 137 points and Schreiner University finished seventh with 205 points. 

Colorado College junior Leah Wessler paced the Tiger harriers as she repeated as SCAC Women's Runner-of-the-Year with a first-place finishing time of 24:08.2. 

CC junior Katie Sandfort finished fourth (24:33.5), followed by a pair of first-year runners for Colorado College as Leah Veidhuisen (24:35.5) and Allysa Warling (24:39.2) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Veidhuisen was named SCAC Newcomer-of-the-Year for her meet-best finish among first-year runners.

Juniors Allison Crimmons (25:04.5) and Stefani Messick (25:28.9) finished ninth and 10th respectively and sophomores Patty Atkinson (25:41.8) and Corey Luna (25:46.8) rounded out the CC Tigers' contingent of all-SCAC performers with 13th and 14th place finishes.

Sophomore Emma MacEachern led the Trinity squad with a third-place finish (24:29.6) and was joined on the All-SCAC team by fellow teammates freshman Molly McCullough (24:56.0 - seventh place), sophomore Melissa Whitman (25:00.4 - eight place), sophomore Haley McFadden (25:29.1 - 11th place) and sophomore Lexi Phelps (25:35.9 - 12th place). 

The entire All-SCAC squad was made up of Colorado College or Trinity runners with the exception of the second-place finish from junior Brianna Timourian of Southwestern, who earned runner-up honors with a finishing time of 24:23.3.

2015 Women's Cross Country All-Conference Team
1. Leah Wessler, Colorado College - 24:08.2
2. Brianna Timourian, Southwestern University - 24:23.3
3. Emma MacEachern, Trinity University - 24:29.6
4. Katie Sandfort, Colorado College - 24:33.5
5. Leah Veidhuisen, Colorado College - 24:35.5
6. Allysa Warling, Colorado College - 24:39.2
7. Molly McCullough, Trinity University - 24:56.0
8. Melissa Whitman, Trinity University - 25:00.4
9. Allison Crimmons, Colorado College - 25:04.5
10. Stefani Messick, Colorado College - 25:28.9
11. Haley McFadden, Trinity University - 25:29.1
12. Lexi Phelps, Trinity University - 25:35.9
13. Patty Atkinson, Colorado College - 25:41.8
14. Corey Luna, Colorado College - 25:46.8 

After the race, SCAC Multimedia and Sports Information Assistant Blake Childers caught up with Colorado College's Wessler, Veidhuisen and CC head coach Ted Castaneda. To watch that interview, click here.