Belles Battle Tough at National Catholic Invitational

Results

• Katie Glenn ran a personal record time of 20:13.77 and was the first Belle to finish.
• Adele Edmonds, Sarah Allen, Gabby Russell, and Brigid Conmy scored for Saint Mary's.
• Claudia Stiglitz was the first Saint Mary's runner to finish the open 5k race with a 22:09.47.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - In a large field of mostly scholarship programs featuring 11 Division I programs, the Saint Mary's cross country team held their own on a hot Friday afternoon at the National Catholic Invitational hosted by the University of Notre Dame.

Saint Mary's placed 11th among non-Division I squads in the women's championship race with a team score of 300. Walsh won the race with a 32 while Saint Mary (Kansas) was second with a 102. The Belles were just five points being Saint Francis (Indiana).

The Belles had five runners participate in the non-scoring open 5k race while seven competed in the championship women's 5k race. In the open race, Claudia Stiglitz was the first Saint Mary's runner to cross the finish line as the freshman ran a 22:09.47 to finish 50th. Emily Blank posted a time of 22:31.44 for 55th place in the race. Emily Harrast turned in a 23:54.42 to place 64th. Maura Honan crossed the finish line in 25:06.86 in 70th place. Michaela Barry capped off the Saint Mary's efforts in the first race of the day with a 25:51.90 for 72nd place.

A field of more than 200 runners took to the course for the women's 5k championship race. Katie Glenn was the first Saint Mary's harrier to cross the finish line as the junior posted a personal record time of 20:13.77 to finish 94th among all runners while earning 27 points toward the team score. The time was more than a 30-second improvement from her previous-best 5k time for the Belles. Adele Edmonds posted a 21:03.10 for 53 points and 135th place. Sarah Allen had a 21:44.90 as the third Belle across the finish line for 69 points (160th overall).

Gabby Russell and Brigid Conmy finished neck and neck to wrap up the team score. Russell edged out her teammate with a 21:56.21 for 75 points (166th). Conmy was a fraction of a second behind with a 21:56.40 for 76 points (167th).

Shanan Hamilton was a few meters back of Russell and Conmy as she posted a time of 22:01.07 to finish 171st. Riley Swope rounded out the team's efforts on the day with a 22:25.85 as the freshman finished 178th.

The Belles have a break from competition and return to racing on Friday, October 5 when they take part in the Bethel Invitational at Saint Patrick's County Park.