10/05/06

After 5,000 meters, you'd think one team would be able to sqeeze out at least one point better than the other. But not Wednesday afternoon at the CSS Invite at St. Scholastica.

On a gloriously sunny day and with temperatures near perfect in the mid-50s at race time, the Saints and Yellowjackets went head to head for the team title as Crown College finished a distant third.

The 'Jackets struck first with Jenna Halverson's first place finish in 21 minutes and 21.3 seconds, but St. Scholastica's Erin Reicks was nipping at her heels across the finish in second place with a time of 22:05.7.

St. Scholastica took the next two spots for a temporary 'lead' with Brittany Peterson's third place (22:05.7) and Tara Connolly's fourth place (22:12.4) finishes.

Superior marched back into the team title race with the next three runners across the finish line dressed in UWS black and gold.

Bridget Smith was next in line for the Saints, her time of 22:35.8 good for eighth place, while UWS pushed their fifth runner across next for tenth place.

The scoring came down to St. Scholastica's fifth runner. Maggie Kading answered the call and finished twelth with a time of 22:49.5, assuring no worse than a tie for the Saints.

The meet ended with the Saints and Yellowjackets tied with 29 points, and Crown with 71 points.