BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - The 2024 cross country season continues this weekend for Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) teams, with a trio of Midwest meets on the schedule.

IN THE POLLS
Two MIAC squads cracked the top 20 in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Top 35 Poll, released on October 2. Carleton is No. 12, while crosstown rival St. Olaf is No. 16.
 
Four MIAC teams are ranked in the North Region's Top 10, with Carleton at No. 1, St. Olaf at No. 3, Gustavus at No. 8, and Bethel at No. 9.
 
The next USTFCCCA rankings are due to be released on October 8.

AROUND THE MIAC
Augsburg first-year Alwena Brix (Plouay, France | Lycee Jean Mace, Rennes) made her collegiate debut at the St. Olaf Invitational on 9/21. She led the Auggies with an 8K time of 30:19.70.
 
Bethel senior Josie Harms (Slayton, Minn. | Murray County Central) notched a sixth-place finish at the Toni St. Pierre Invitational on 9/6 while helping the Royals to a third-place finish as a team. Harms crossed the finish line in a 5K-best time of 19:04.7.
 
Carleton junior Hannah Preisser (Chapel Hill, N.C. | Carrboro) picked up her second collegiate cross country victory after being the top finisher as the Knights won the 22-team St. Olaf Invitational on 9/21. Preisser posted a winning time of 21:57.8, good for an eight-second margin of victory. With Preisser leading the way, the Knights posted a team score of 35 in a field that included four other squads that were either nationally or regionally ranked.
 
Concordia first-year Ashley Nelson (Rice, Minn. | Sartell) posted the top women's 5K time in the MIAC this season in her first collegiate meet at the Dragon Twilight on 9/13. Nelson covered the 5K course in a time of 18:35.5, more than a minute faster than her previous PR.
 
Gustavus junior Molly Liston (Richfield, Minn. | The Blake School) won the Coach Finanger Invitational on 9/6. Liston led the race from start to finish and crossed the 5K line in 19:03.9, nearly a minute faster than the next competitor. The race included 68 runners.
 
Hamline sophomore Anabel Bradley (Cedar Rapids, Iowa | John F. Kennedy) crossed the finish line at 25:50.0 to lead the Pipers at the St. Olaf Invitational on 9/21.
 
Macalester first-year Kate Fox (Seattle, Wash. | Garfield) was the first Division III runner across the finish line at the Roy Griak Invitational on 9/20. Fox completed the 6K course in 24:20.7 to finish 40th. The performance marked the third time in three races this season that Fox has been Macalester's top finisher.
 
Saint Benedict first-year Eileen O'Connor (Chicago, Ill. | Mother McAuley) clocked in at 19:15.0 in her collegiate debut at the Toni St. Pierre Invite on 9/6. O'Connor finished seventh overall, while the Bennies placed second as a team.
 
St. Catherine first-year Mist Sit (Edina, Minn.) made her collegiate debut at the St. Olaf Invitational on 9/21, leading the Wildcats with a time of 26:10.6.
 
Saint Mary’s first-year Mya Slavin (St. Charles, Minn.) led the Cardinals with a time of 24:23:80 at the St. Olaf Invitational on 9/21.
 
St. Olaf senior Alison Bode (Minneapolis, Minn. | Southwest) was the top finisher at the Ole 5K Opener on 8/31 to lead the nationally-ranked Oles to a first-place finish as a team. The senior completed the 5K course in 19:02.9, which was nearly 17 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.
 
St. Scholastica sophomore Grace McCormick (Duluth, Minn. | Denfield) placed third overall at the Ole Opener on 8/30, crossing the finish line in 19:27.10.

UP NEXT
Friday, October 4
Jimmie Invitational | Jamestown, N.D.
Blugold Invitational | Colfax, Wis.
 
Saturday, October 5
The Running of the Cows | Northfield, Minn.

LEAGUE LEADERS