The women continued Ole pride by successfully romping the competition. With yet another conference win, the women's team obtained the ever elusive "three-peat" in sports as MIAC Champions.

Their team score was 36, a full 20 points less than the runner-up, Concordia. They were also almost 70 points ahead of third place Carleton. St. Olaf had four runners finish in the top ten. Leading once again for the Oles was sophomore Megan Daymont, with a time of 18:59. Seniors Anne Sateren and Katie Milbrett, junior Brigid Franey, and first-year Marit Grorud rounded out the top five Ole finishers.

The much-desired wolf pack of runners at the front worked beautifully. Coach Chris Daymont remarked, "It was perfect pack running. We couldn't have done any better." The team was so strong and dominant in this meet, in fact, that the B-squad alone could have come away with a 6th place finish overall.

The JV team finished off their season Nov. 2, with a win over Carleton at the Karhu Shoe Race. This win added to another streak the women's team has going: an 11-year winning streak over Carleton at this JV dual meet.

Remarkably, the end of the season for the Ole women's cross-country team is fast approaching. This is especially hard to face considering how wonderfully this team gets along together. One would be hard-pressed to find a group of student-athletes that has become as close as this team.

Asking any female runner about their experiences this year would undoubtedly yield the same result every time. They have developed deep friendships that go far beyond the confines of cross-country.

The MIAC Championship was the last race for which Coach Daymont had the full roster of girls. For the Central Regionals and NCAA Nationals meets, only 11 women will continue training. However, the team has still remained active together.

They collectively worked at the Minnesota State High School Meet last Saturday, since St. Olaf was hosting the event. Also, the whole team will be rooting for the runners as they compete at Regionals and possibly Nationals.

The senior runners will definitely be missed by the whole team. Coach Daymont is especially close to this group, because many of them happen to be friends of her daughter, Sara Daymont.

Twelve of the top 20 finishers for St. Olaf this year are seniors who will be leaving the team. Noted Marit Grorud, the top first-year runner, "We're losing a lot of leadership. Everyone is going to have the chance to improve."

The Oles are in a good position to keep the success going, but there will certainly be a void to fill when this class leaves. All the cross-country team has left to set their sights on is the Central Regionals meet in Waverly, IA, this Saturday, Nov. 11. The top five teams from that meet will have the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Nationals Meet a week later, Nov. 18, in Spokane, WA.

All of the female Ole runners have a good feeling about this Regionals meet. Sara Daymont commented, "Everyone knows their job on the team. We just have to pack together, and we'll do fine."

Luther College and Wartburg College are probably the toughest competition they'll face. Those are the only two teams that should be any trouble to St. Olaf.

Even though the roster has been cut to eleven runners for Regionals, over thirty women are planning to attend by carpooling or taking a van down to Waverly. There, they will cheer their team on to what will most likely prove to be a strong finish.

If all goes well, the Oles will be on their way to Spokane next weekend to test their mettle against the best Division III schools in the nation.