Front runners, depth to lead women at MIAC Cross Country Championships

Mike Ludwig
October 31, 2008

NORTHFIELD, Minn. - In hopes of improving on last year's third place finish, St. Olaf will depend on strong front-runners and a deep team to battle out for the remaining scoring positions at tomorrow's MIAC Cross Country Championships.

Seniors Annie Knutson and Jenna Carlson have been the Oles' top runners this season, always scoring as the team's first two runners. Knutson, who was fifth on the team and 25th overall at last year's MIAC Championships, has had a standout season, finishing 18th or better in each race she competed in. She was also named MIAC athlete of the week the week of September 22 following a fourth place finish at the St. Olaf Invitational.

Carlson is the Oles' top returning runner, following up a fourth place finish at last year's championships. She has finished in the top-20 in all but one race she has competed in this season, and ran her best time of the season at La Crosse's Tori Neubauer Invitational, where she finished 29th overall with a time of 22:45.

The key to the team's success will lie with the efforts of the remaining scorers. A combination of juniors Michaela McLaughlin, Abby Smith, and Nellie Adams, senior Katie Duwell, and first-year Hannah Dennis could all be contenders to score for the team, which has seen a variety combinations in positions three through five this season.

St. Olaf, ranked 27th in the latest USTFCCA Top 25 poll, has won the MIAC cross country championships eight times, most recently in 2002.

Tomorrow's women's race, run at Como Park in St. Paul, will begin at 3 p.m.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.