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St. Olaf women qualify for nationals to be held at St. Olaf next weekend

Emily Uzzell
November 20, 2002

The St. Olaf Women's Cross Country team is returning to their home course to race at the NCAA Division III National Meet this coming Saturday at noon (the men race at 11:00 am). After finishing a strong second place to Wartburg College within the mid-central region, the women achieved their goal of returning to race on their home course.

Though the Oles went out strong during the race, they proved tough through the finish line as three members finished in the top 25, earning the All-Mid-Central Region awards. The Oles were lead by Megan Daymont (Sr., Northfield, Minn.) who finished a strong second place to Wartburg's Missy Buttry with a time of 21:53. Finishing second for the Oles was Kari Koos (FY, Leavenworth, Wash.) with teammate Marit Grorud (Jr., Fremont, Nebr.). Koos finished in eleventh place with Grorud in eighteenth place. Brenna Bray (FY, Stillwater, Minn.) completed the 6K course by finishing in 26th place overall, and 4th for the Oles. Rachel Pederson (Sr., Sioux Falls, SD) was the fifth runner for the Oles, as she ran her personal best and finished in 30th place. The pack running proved vital to the Oles as Kezia Manlove finished 34th and was the Oles 6th overall runner. Rounding out the Oles roster was Meredith Fahrner (So., Urbana, Il.) who, despite hardships throughout the race, still finished in 24 minutes.

The depth of this squad showed through during the regional meet, as they proved that the Oles determination to make it back to nationals on their home course. Look for the Oles to race even better as they know the curves and strategies of their own course this coming Saturday. Race time begins at 11 a.m. for the men, where the St. Olaf men will also be racing, and noon for the women.

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