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Ole women runners compete at Eau Claire Invitational

Le Ann Finger
October 7, 2002

Racing in conditions that would keep many at home, the St. Olaf Women's Cross Country team competed at the Eau Claire Long and Short Invitational last Friday. Allowing the runners to race either the long (5K) or the short (3K) races, the scores were then combined to determine the overall team winner. With Kari Koos (FY, Leavenworth, Wash.) winning the 3K and teammate Megan Daymont (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) winning the 5K, the Oles ran away with the combined team title.

In the short race, St. Olaf finished second to Macalester; only one point separated the teams. Erin Bengston (FY, Flower Mound, TX) and Kezia Manlove (FY, Rapid City, S.D.) finished 9th and 11th, respectively, but were less than 30 seconds behind Koos. The other Oles competing in the 3K performed very well, despite the conditions.

In the long race, St. Olaf finished third as a team. UW-Eau Claire and St. Benedict finished one and two, but the combining of scores allowed St. Olaf to win the team title. While the top 5 in the 3K race for the Oles were all first year runner, the upper-classmen dominated the top ten places in the 5K. With Daymont leading the race, Marit Grorud (Jr., Fremont, Neb.) and Meredith Fahrner (So., Urbana, Ill.) finished in 11th and 18th. Rachel Pederson (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and Kjersten Johnson (Jr., Steven's Point, Wis.) took the next two places for the Oles. Completing the top seven were Traci Bartz (Sr., Bemidji, Minn.) and April Graves (So., Shorewood, Minn.). The trademark pack running proved its success again as the Oles all finished with another Ole close by.

The Oles will come back together as a team this weekend, as they host the NCAA Pre-National Meet on Saturday beginning at 11. With the national meet in the back of everyone's mind, look for a solid week of practice to boost the Oles into competition this next weekend.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.