11/12/06

On a course that may have been better suited for the Nordic team rather than a cross country squad, the Saints completed their first season competing at the NCAA Division-III level with a 20th place finish at the NCAA D-III Central Regional hosted by St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., on Saturday afternoon.

Over eight inches of overnight snow delayed the race start one hour as St. Olaf crews feverishly worked all morning to clear the race course for the runners.

In less than ideal conditions -- but the same for everyone -- the Saints raced their way over the slippery 6,000 meter course, led by Erin Reicks' 86th place time of 24 minutes and 40 seconds.

Amy Wicker (103rd, 25:09, season best), Tara Connolly (108th, 25:14, tied personal record), Brittany Peterson (117th, 25:28) and Megan Salo (128th, 25:57) rounded out the runners in scoring positions for the Saints.

Hailey Harren of Gustavus Adolphus was the Regional's individual champion in a time of 21:37, while Grinnell (Iowa) College took the team title.

Up until this season, St. Scholastica raced as an NAIA member school. They captured their sixth consecutive UMAC team title two weekends ago at the UMAC Championship and placed seven runners -- Connolly, Stacy Kantola, Peterson, Reicks, Salo, Bridget Smith, and Wicker -- on the All-Conference squad.